In a tough job market, it can be very challenging to know how to maintain a competitive edge.
After several resume submittals, you finally get the call that you have been waiting for: an invitation to interview for a job. But how to prepare? We pulled together our best tips to help you get ready:
Preparing For Your Interview
- Research the company (and its’ industry). It’s important that you are knowledgeable about the business you’ll be in.
- Prepare questions to ask during the interview.
- Identify three strengths and a specific example that demonstrates when they have been a benefit to a past employer.
- Think about one or two weaknesses you may have, and what you have done to successfully overcome them.
The following are some common questions to be prepared to answer
- Tell me about yourself?
- What did you like best/least about your last position?
- What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
- How would your last supervisor describe you?
- Why do you feel that you would be an asset to this company?
It’s always a good idea to ask questions during an interview, especially in regard to clarifying the role and the company culture. Here are a few useful ones:
- What qualities make a person successful in this position? In this company?
- How would my performance be evaluated?
- What are the three biggest challenges that I would face in the first year with the company?
Interviewing can feel really stressful but preparing beforehand will make the experience a lot less nerve-wracking and can also help you gain more insight into the job itself, not to mention establish you as a leading candidate for it!