The job interview may be the KEY step in the job search process. (First, you write a great resume to secure interviews!) With that in mind, this post tackles preparation tips for job interviews.
 

Background

According to Hannah Morgan, writing for Savvy Intern:

“The interview is scheduled! You are ecstatic, as you should be. But now what? Begin preparing and practicing! How will you perfectly prepare for the interview? Perhaps you need an interview preparation guide. You’ve already done some preliminary research on the company. But now it’s time to dig deep. The more you know about the firm, its competitors and the overall market, the smarter you’ll appear. Too often people fail to thoroughly prepare the job interview for this specific job at this company. In other words, they tend to treat each interview as generic in nature.”

Job Interview Preparation Tips: 10 Steps to Success

Morgan offers a new 10-step guide with job interview preparation tips. To access her full guide, click the image below the tips.

1. “Get a Copy of the Most Current Job Description — What they’ve posted online may not be the full description or most recent version of job requirements. It isn’t unusual for a firm to have a different version of the job description for internal use. It may be more descriptive.”
2. “Prepare a Story for Each of the Job Requirements — Go through each requirement listed in the job posting and develop an answer for how you meet the requirements.”
3. “Prepare Answers to the Most Common Interview Questions — You shouldn’t sound rehearsed. You should sound natural! Practice!
4. “Craft Your Opening Statement — You can pretty much count on this question. Prepare the best 1-minute response. Answer as if you were asked, why should we hire you.
5. “Research the Company — Look at the company Web site and career page. But don’t stop here. Google the firm and see what news is mentioned.”
6. “Know Something About the Interviewers — Thank goodness for LinkedIn. Go ahead and see where they used to work, what organizations and groups they belong to, and recommendations others have written.”
7. “Prepare Smart Questions — To understand the job and firm, ask questions! So, ask questions to learn expectations, how the team functions, and more.”
8. “Know the Internet Format — Will you be meet one-on-one, as a panel, via phone, Skype, or online video, and how long will the scheduled to last?”
9. “Bring Copies of Your Resume for Everyone — Don’t assume everyone will have a copy.”
10. “Know Exact Dates –If you haven’t completed an application, don’t say “see attached resume.” Fully and accurately complete the job application. It is a legal document. Do not lie, exaggerate or embellish.”