How to Be Prepared for a Good Interview

You can be prepared for spontaneous interviews at busy job fairs.

Job seekers commonly worry about being prepared for an interview with a potential employer. However, applicants should know that human resource professionals and managers also agonize over hiring new employees. Companies reluctantly spend money on recruiting and training new employees, and if a person turns out to be an improper fit for the job, then those dollars are wasted. Business speaker and entrepreneur Jay Goltz in a 2011 blog for The New York Times wrote that a bad hiring decision can cost a business anywhere from $40,000 to $200,000. Decision-makers have to conduct sometimes challenging interviews to root out bad candidates. You can ensure you are prepared to pass the test.

Things You'll Need

• Multi-function printer (print, scan, copy and fax) optional
• Web camera (optional)

Instructions

1. Ask the hiring personnel about the interviewing method. The company may conduct the interview via telephone, in-person or as a video conference via the Internet. Some interviews are more "social," where you have lunch with the hiring manager or you sit in front of a group of employees, panel style, who make a collective hiring decision. You have to mentally, physically and logistically adapt to whatever interview style the employer prefers.

2. Gather your documentation. Usually, the employer already has your completed application and resume in hand, but prepare to submit this information again. In some cases, you submit a resume after your application is reviewed. The resume should focus on how your skills relate to the job opening, as the interviewer might use it as the basis for questioning. Have a separate page of personal references ready if requested. Also, make sure you have unexpired licenses and other government documentation, including a Social Security card. Have copies of these documents on paper or digitally stored on the hard drive, in case you need to fax or email these documents for background checks.

3. Research the company as well as the job opening. Know the industry you would be working in. Be aware of the current skills you need to emphasize to get the job. Visit the company's corporate website and click on the "Investor Relations" and "News Release" sections to read about new ventures the company is potentially hiring for, as well as social networking websites related to the company. Because of the ubiquity of the Web, people and organizations can sometimes get offended for not knowing your facts and being current.

4. Dress-rehearse for the interview. Make sure you have professional attire. You can sometimes call the company's receptionist prior to the interview and ask about the dress code, such as business casual. Style your hair and groom your face based on industry-accepted standards. If the interview is over the phone, make sure you have access to a quality, static-free service, such as a land-line phone instead of a cellphone. Plan your driving or mass transit route to avoid traffic tie-ups. Make sure the kids will be in school or hire a babysitter. Practice answering interview questions with a family member at home, or another person over the telephone.

5. Ready yourself on the day of the interview to complete the preparation process. Avoid straying from your usual morning routine. For example, some people skip breakfast for fear of getting butterflies in the interview, but that is not beneficial if you become lightheaded due to hunger. Arrive early and be prepared to stay late or have to reschedule. Note that you are being judged the moment you walk in the company's door or pick up the telephone handset for the interview. Be courteous to the front-desk receptionist and wait patiently without fidgeting. Answer the phone with a formal, "Hello. This is John, speaking," or something similar and use the same courtesy in person.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean up your online image on social networking websites, such as Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus. You don't want the interviewer to bring up your online profile, asking about questionable pictures and blurbs of text. Set your account to "Private."

• Video interviews are becoming increasingly common for people who virtually telecommute or work at home and who may never visit the corporate headquarters in person. Try to invest in a quality Web camera, greater than 1-megapixel quality.

• Avoid using scented soaps and lotions, as well as colognes and perfumes.

• Other interview types include "work sample" and "stress." Though you can do some preparation for these type of questions, just be natural on the day of the interview. Do not fake your skills or emotions, because it is dishonest. If it turns out that you are not suited for the job, then after being hired, the company may wish to immediately sever the relationship, dashing your employment hopes and wasting the company's time and money.

References

• The New York Times; The Hidden Costs of Bad Hiring; Jay Goltz; March 2011
• Career One Stop; Job Interviews
• Cornell University; Career Services; How Employers Use Resumes
• BLS.gov; Focused Jobseeking; A Measured Approach to Looking For Work; Dennis Vilorio; Spring 2011 (PDF)
• BLS.gov; Job Interview Tips

Resources

• Career One Stop; Sample Job Interview Questions
• Career One Stop; Sample Informational Interview Questions
• BLS.gov; OOQ Online; Resumes, Applications and Cover Letters; Summer 2009