Preparing for a Job Interview

Research and preparation are 50% of the hard work to getting the job . Many interviewers often say that candidates let themselves down almost immediately by not knowing enough about the company.

Research is Critical

Employers like to feel that candidates have made an effort to find out about them. And the more information you have, the easier it will be for you to tailor your interview responses to show the interviewer that you are the perfect person for the job.

At a minimum, you should be able to establish the following:

• What sort of business are they in and what are their current services or products?
• What are the company's vision, mission and values?
• What is their strategy for the future? What plans or investments do they have lined up or going forwards?
• Approximately how many staff does the organization employ? Are they a very large or a very small employer?
• Who are their competitors?

In your preparation, you should read ravenously. Any snippet you pick up could make the difference - showing that you have invested time and effort in understanding the company.

You Have the Skills and Experience needed for a Job Interview

No matter how relaxed and informal an interview might be, it is not simply a conversation or a 'chat'. It is an opportunity to sell yourself and convince the interviewer that you are the best person for the job.

So think of an interview as a sales pitch. And before you can do your sales pitch, you must understand your product - yourself. Before you carry on with the rest of the book, take a notepad and jot down some thoughts to the following questions:

• What are the three biggest achievements of your career?
• What are you most proud of outside of your work?
• What are your goals in your career? What would you like to get out of your next job move?
• Why should an employer want you to work for them?

Do take the time - even if it is only 20 minutes - to think about these questions. Time spent now will make it much easier for you to respond competently to the many questions that interviewers might throw at you later.