Prepare for that interview
Gene
Mage
Candidates who prepare well make the recruiter’s job easy, and
set themselves apart from the crowd. What
you do before the interview matters just as much as the actual
conversation. Here are four steps
towards being perfectly prepared.
- Do your homework. There are three essential ways to
learn about a potential industry, employer, or position to which you
aspire.
·
The first and most powerful is “informational
interviewing”. Savvy job-seekers
identify knowledgeable people working in an industry or company and ask for informal
meetings to learn more about the job they want.
When conducting an informational interview you are not asking for a
job. Do not offer your resume or
ask about positions. You are not there
to sell, but rather to listen. Do ask
thoughtful questions, be personable, show up on time, and communicate well. You will make a good impression; glean
invaluable insight into what that organization wants in new hires; and clues
about their workplace culture. But most
importantly, you will build a growing network of contacts in that industry who
know you, and hopefully will keep you in mind when openings do occur. End each informational interview by asking,
“Who else should I talk to?”
·
Second, you can access information about
virtually any industry, job, or company you are researching via the internet. Before showing up for even an informational
interview, thoroughly review all the information on the company’s website,
industry association pages, and relevant news stories. Not feeling web-savvy? Stop by your public library where skilled,
helpful researchers are ready to assist you.
·
Third, ask the recruiter, HR department, or
hiring manager about qualifications and characteristics of desirable candidates. Usually all you have to do is ask, “What are
the most important skills and personal qualities you are seeking for this
position?”
- Enhance your skills. While every employer wants
candidates with a professional image, today most also want a college degree
and computer literacy. That new
standard now applies even in job categories traditionally open to high
school grads such as customer service representatives and administrative
assistants.
It takes effort, discipline, and commitment to successfully advance your
education, whether for a six week certificate program in office technology
or a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Your ability to study, manage your time well, and organize your
personal life and finances to complete an educational program speaks
volumes about your good character.
- Make sure your resume is well-written,
accurate, and error-free. If
you have done your homework, writing the resume is relatively easy. You
will list your work history, qualifications, accomplishments and life-experiences
for the hiring manager using key words that address the employer’s needs.
If you lack professional work experience, talk about your volunteer work
in hospice or your years as a life guard at the local pool. If showing up on time, doing accurate
work, and working well with others are key characteristics sought by the
employer, those experiences will serve as marvelous examples.
After you get your “working draft” done, have at least three people
proof-read your materials before sending them out to potential hiring
managers. Then, ask some folks from your informational interviewing network
to give you feedback on content and style.
- Prepare to talk about your experiences. Employers want to know three things
about your experiences: What was
the situation, what did you do about it, and what were the results? From your answers, they will draw
conclusions about your values and approach towards life.
For example, if asked, “Tell me about a time you were challenged to work
with a difficult person,” be ready to explain about the time one of your
hospice patients had a difficult family member who made a scene during a
visit, so you decided to take the person aside and listen to their
concerns, and as a result they calmed down and joined the family gathering.
Syndicated business columnist Gene C. Mage is author of the
book, “Managing for High Performance.”
You are invited to ask questions at www.makingitwork.com