Prepare Brilliantly For Your Inteview In Two Simple Steps
You have to know about the two elements of high quality interview preparation.
Firstly, you have to develop content. You need to gain awareness about the company that you are applying to, the job on offer and the skills you have to offer.
Then you need to learn how to talk confidently and enthusiastically. Figure out what the common questions are likely to be about and then think about what you could say in answer to those questions. Keep improving your delivery.
In this article, I am going to help you prepare to learn what you need to learn to sell your candidacy well.
You must investigate as much as you can about the company. I would spend 4 hours preparing a 10 page report on every company that you are shortlisted for. There are two reasons for this, one the value of the report and secondly the value of the preparation.
Use this dossier to refresh your knowledge about the company so that you have the key facts and figures to hand on the day of the interview. You will also discover that you have gained huge insights into what makes the company tick and who the players are. This will be invaluable in helping you to sell your skills. It may even make you realise that this is not a company that you will be happy working in.
The internet will provide you with speedy access to a vast array of information to fill your report. Go to the company website and look them up on google. But also consider looking at more authoritative sites, such as one or more of the following:
1. http://www.hoovers.com - this is the business information authority
2. http://www.dnb.com will give you informaiton from Dun and Bradsheet
3. http://www.vaultreports.com/companies/searchcompanies.jsp will give you more great data
4. http://www.company.monster.com/ can also give some great insights
Spend a bit of time collating market data. Work out what has happened to that industry in the past and what is likely to happen over the next few years.
Develop some ideas as to how you can help this company meet it’s challenges and opportunities in the coming years - bearing in mind its history and how it is set up now.
Go through the job description and figure out what the company is worried about. The companies worries will be reflected in the interview panel’s questions. How are you going to sell your skills in each of these categories?
I know it can be a little uncomfortable, but you have to accept that the interview is a game and the game is selling. You are the sales person and you are the product.
You have to figure out how you are going to let the interview board understand how you are the top dog for this job. Invest the time needed to go through your past efforts and achievements. Identify how you managed various testing tasks. Use these anecdotes to sell your skills to match the needs of the employer.
This time investment is what you will need to give you the confidence in your preparation to deliver quality answers in your interview.
Best of luck!
Tags: career development, careers, interview, interviews, job interview, jobs, Promotion
