1.3: Preparing for the Interview
If you have taken our course on resume writing, PRDV102, you know that you should spend some time to research and plan how to showcase your qualifications to a potential employer. An invitation to an interview gives you the opportunity to present yourself as the most desirable candidate for a position opening. Whether or not you receive an offer or choose to accept one, the interview experience will give you the confidence to pursue future career opportunities. During the interview, you should display your knowledge about the company, personal employment goals, professional strengths, and weaknesses if you are asked. Preparation is key.
Read this article to learn how to make an interview count. Employers often mention interpersonal skills and personal characteristics when thay are asked why they decided not to hire a certain candidate. The author lists some of these factors, most of which are almost always within your control. After you read, revisit the article in section 1.3 on what to do before, during, and after an interview for some activities to help you practice and how to answer open-ended questions. Your candidacy does not end when you leave the interview; you can increase your chances of being called back with an appropriate follow-up strategy.
Read this article for more on how to prepare for an interview and research a company. Pay special attention to the discussion on references. Be sure to tell your referees that you will be interviewing, and that they should be prepared to receive a call. Think about the interview process from an employer's point of view, and pay attention to some of the open-ended questions employers often ask. Think about how you would formulate effective responses to these questions.
At the end of the interview, your interviewer will probably ask you if you have any questions. This is a time to express your interest in the job and your motivation to work for the company. This is also your opportunity to learn about the company's culture, the challenges of the position, the training process, and next steps. When you prepare for questions you might ask your interviewer, do not ask questions just for the sake of asking. Make sure you are really interested in the interviewer's responses.