Preparing for a job interview

Preparing for a job interview Preparing for a job interviewPosted October 16, 2013, by Helen Isbister lenm 123RF Stock Photo When yure out on the interviewing circuit, a crucial thing to remember is that a square peg wont fit into a round hole. A PhD and even a Nobel Prize could be beaten hands-down at a job interview if a less accomplished mortal better suits the job description and company culture. By the time you make it to the hot seat, you have already established via your resume and cover letter that you have the qualifications and experience required to do the job. Now that you are face-to-face with the interviewer, its time to show that you are also the best fit for their company. The goal to show that you have the skills, background and ability to do the job, plus that you will be able to fit with the companys overall ethos and vibe. Find out about the company culture Tailoring your interview so that you hit all the right buttons means understanding the company and how it operates. Knowing about the companys background and operations, what management is looking for and what the office vibe is like will help you to do well at the interview and give you a good chance of being offered the job. Getting background information may require a little corporate stalking. Like all 21st century stalking, most of it can be done easily on the Internet. Read the company profile, and read what is being said about the company from sources other than the company website for example, do a Google search for media articles. Dont forget to call up contacts who may be able to give you the inside scoop, and check out some of the key company players on LinkedIn. Pull the job advertisement apart with a red pen, circling all the skills, qualities and experience that the job interviewer may want to explore with you. Start making a list of key skills and personal attributes so you dont waste time elaborating on skills they simply dont care about. Stay focused on the job descrip tion Its unlikely you will find all the answers to get through the interview on Google, so this is the time to do some extra work. If you are going to sell yourself as the right person for the job, youre going to need to know precisely what you want to say. Dont waste words and your time and theirs. Make a list of all the standard interview questions (see our extensive list here). Using the job description from the job ad and any other information about the job that you have gleaned from your research, write answers to match their requirements, using examples from your