The Best Steps To Prepare for An Interview!

By David S. Chang

After interviewing and going through hundreds of people for my businesses, non profits, and other organizations, that I am a part of, I learned a few things of what separated the top bunch with everyone else. With the job hunting environment more difficult these days, it is important to not make simple mistakes that can keep you from your dream job.

Here are some steps to take in preparing for your interview. The key thing to note is that it will take hard work and effort to be successful, nothing can take the place of it. If you do not prepare yourself, interviewers, especially experienced ones at the top companies, will see right through it!

  1. Research the company you are interviewing for! This seems like a no-brainer, but I actually had someone come in and during the questions and answer portion of the interview asked what our company did and what role this interview was for. This tells me you don’t care enough about this job or the company to even take the time to research the company. When doing your research, try to find the company vision, mission, their operations, and the department you are looking to get a job in. It impresses me when people right off the bat tells me how they can fit in our company because they believe in what we stand and strive for.
  2. Be mentally prepared. Be in the right frame of mind by having a positive mental and enthusiastic attitude. According to research, simply stretching (do it in the bathroom, not in the lobby!) and power posing with their posture can help you feel better about yourself, giving you a sense of control. Visualize yourself having the best interview you have ever had. Even think back on prior successes to build your confidence. Show up early so you are not rushed and frantic. When someone is late and panting and sweating during an interview because they were in a rush, it sets a bad tone for the rest of the interview.
  3. Look good! Look the part of the position you are going for and in fact dress a couple notches above! Chances are there are multiple people being interviewed for the position, so set yourself apart. Of course look at the job description dress code first. Don’t dress inappropriately, look scruffy, or like you just rolled out of bed. In an interview, first impressions are everything and top  interviewers tend to scrutinize everything, even how dirty your shoes are. Take the time to look good, it shows the company you care.
  4. Ask the right questions. The best people I interviewed were interactive, asking specific, probing questions that showed they were self-aware of themselves and the role they would play in the company. This shows you are proactive and want to make sure you are a good fit for the company. You want to match yourself to the job and by asking good questions about performance indicators, future goals of the company, and what it takes to be successful. Here are some good questions to have up in your sleeve:
    1.  What qualities do you see that will make someone successful in this position? (shows you care about succeeding)
    2. Personal growth is important to me, are there opportunities in the company for growth? (shows that you are not there just to “get by” but grow personally, and in turn grow the company)
    3. Do you have any concerns of me as of now? (This is a soft close, and although you may not want to know the answer, you can see if there was any miscommunication and gauge how well you did or did not do. Don’t be defensive however)
  5. Confidence vs. Cocky. Good interviewers know the difference, you want to project self-confidence that won’t let your ego get in the way. Cocky comes off as insecure and you need to prove yourself by being arrogant. It is a fine line, have someone help you by role playing with you, it will help the interview process!
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