By Dixie So you made it over the mountain of other job seekers and have your first job interview. Pat yourself on the back! That is fantastic!
Now what? If you are like most folks, you are now officially scared to death. Yes, you are scared. Yes, you don’t know what they might ask you. Yes, you may feel like you are not even qualified at all and have no chance of getting the job. You may not even know if you WANT this job. How do you get ready??? I have been both the interviewer and interviewee many times and there are some very simple ways to get ready. BTW, most people never do these and I promise if you do these you will be less anxious, have a better time at the interview and a better result overall.
- Build yourself up. Realize that the person you are interviewing with chose YOU. So this person, and probably several, saw something of interest in what you sent them. No one is just going to waste their time talking with someone who doesn’t have a chance. No one has the time to do that. I promise you. Realize too that you are interviewing them as well. After the interview, you may well discover that this company isn’t a fit for you and that’s OK. For now let’s get you through the interview…
So, take a deep breath, then pick up your resume and a copy of what the job description says. Look at both from the interviewer’s standpoint. How does your resume fit in with what they are looking for? What other experiences and ideas do you have that would be a benefit for this job? Think about job experiences, but also school experiences…anything you did that is related to this job, passion for this industry, organizations, events or volunteer work. Think of actual experiences that you have that directly relate to what the job description said. Write them down. Bullet points are OK. Just something to remind you.
Brainstorm all the things that make you the best person for this job. Your goal here is to make yourself feel like the absolute best person for this job. They would be cray cray not to hire you on the spot.
Also think about some areas where your experience, etc do NOT fit into the job description. Write those down too. Think of how you would answer why you are still the best candidate. Perhaps it is as simple as the fact that you have a great work ethic and are willing to learn and grow. Come up with some examples. College degree, a related hobby learning a new skill, etc. Somewhere where you have really stretched yourself and achieved a goal.
And remember that there are NO perfect candidates. At the end of the day, interviewers are looking for a person who has a lot of what they are looking for, a great work ethic, someone who can learn, and someone who will fit in with the rest of their team.
2. Learn a little about the company. Visit the company website and Facebook page. Google the company and see what other people have said. Learn about the corporate culture–look at the “About” page, read the Presidents message if there is one, read about the latest news about the company, read about community or charitable events. What are their products? Who are their customers? What are their employees like? Write down a few names and information to drop into the interview conversation.
3. Get in front of the mirror. This will sound really stupid, but it will help you so much. Have a imaginary conversation with your interviewer. Get alone so you don’t feel weird talking out loud in front of family or friends. Look back at all you have written down and imagine what they will ask and how you will answer. Run through what you think will be asked and how you will answer.
Here are some questions (and sample answers) that most every interviewer will ask you. Be brief in your answers and expect some questions:
Why are you interested in this job?
(I have been very impressed with your organization because of your commitment to….and my goals are to…and I can benefit you by…)
How does your experience fit in with what we need?
(Here are three ways…education, job and volunteer/hobby experience, work ethic/learning)
Where do you want to be in five years?
(I will still be in this field, helping this company by….)
What are some areas you struggle with?
(use examples that are very minor, or things you are aware of and work on. An example is “I get very focused on projects and can come across as not involved in social activities during this time…” ” I can be very passionate about this industry, but have learned how to talk to others without being perceived as pushy or preachy.”)
4. On the day of your interview, read over your notes. Remember that the person who will be interviewing you is interested in finding someone to help their company. You are simply going to talk with them about how you are the best candidate. You are also finding out if they are a fit for you as well. Remind yourself that this is simply a conversation with another human being.
Be yourself. Be honest. Be passionate. You will be OK. I promise.