This is part one of a three part series discussing the job interview process and how to make a positive impact during the interview.
Intense anxiety and stress occurs in the course of changing jobs. The initial anxiety is caused by the job interview and then proceeds into the first day of work. In order to start the first day of work, it is necessary to successfully complete the job interview. The purpose of these three articles is to provide interviewing tips including a guide for video interviewing.
BE PREPARED!
Preparation for a job interview involves wearing the appropriate clothing and planning the route to meet at the interview location on time. Prior to that preparation involves the application process (paper or computer) and ends with the appropriate follow-up.
The internet has altered the job search process. Today 91% of hiring managers and recruiters research possible candidates on social media. It is imperative to critique your resume as well as evaluating pictures and previous posts. The social media is to reflect the best image of you as a candidate. It is suggested to utilize a service call Social Sweepster (https://socialsweepster.com) to review your internet presence.
Also evaluate the social media utilized by your prospective employer. Review the employer’s website in order to analyze the blog posts, quarterly reports, and news releases. Utilize resources such as About Us or Corporate Relations to obtain additional information and blogs
It can be advisable to bring an additional copy of your resume, a list of references, and additional background information that becomes easily accessible during the interview.
After your research, start to reflect on possible responses to usual and customary questions. Often you are asked to talk about yourself and to discuss your strengths and weaknesses. Utilize this time to highlight your experience and skill set. Every response should include a situation, the appropriate action, and a positive result. An example would be discussing a weakness of becoming overwhelmed with new project tasks. The appropriate action would involve breaking the project into a timeline. It would then be necessary to create a to-do list with a priority of three to four tasks to be completed each day. The positive result would be completion of the project on time or even ahead of schedule and you not feeling overwhelmed.
Even before the interview, prepare for the follow-up. Know the names of the interviewers and if possible obtain their business cards. You should also respond to the person who organized the interview and anyone who greeted you upon your arrival. It is better to respond to at least one person even if you are unable to obtain everyone’s names and contact information.
Remember that preparation for a job interview can mean the difference of receiving an offer for a job or just a response of “We will be in contact with you in the future,” which usually results in no contact at all. Review your personal information on social media, the company documentation, and complete the follow-up process after the interview. This is how you will become an outstanding candidate!
Suggested resources:
12 Surprising Job Interview Tips – http://forbes.com/sites/jonyoushaei/2014/10/20/12-surprising-interview-tips/
Top 5 Most Commonly Misunderstood Interview Tips – http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/top-5-most-commonly-misunderstood-interview-tips/
