4 Things TO DO Before an Interview

Interviews can be nerve racking for the best of us. There are so many things to worry about; “Am I prepared?”, “What are they going to think when they meet me?”, “Am I smiling enough?” “Did I smile too much and creep them out?”.

If you do a quick google search for tips on how to prepare for an interview, you are likely to find approximately 94789347 articles about things you should and shouldn’t do. As I write this blog post I realize I am probably just going to add to this huge list of articles. But I'm going to give you these tips anyway because I really do think they could help you stand out. So here goes...

1. Research

Do as much research as possible on the company you plan to interview at. You need to show the recruiter/ potential manager that you have put in the time and effort to really understand the company. Is the organization publicly traded? Yes. Great! This presents you with an amazing opportunity to quickly glance through the shareholder report or investor relations report. You’re probably thinking “Yeah but I could just google the website…” And the truth is, you could, but I guarantee you that is exactly what every other candidate is doing, too. In addition, the Investor Report is more likely to provide you with up-to date information. Information such as the goals for the upcoming year, the financial standing of the company, the possible expansion into new territories and their vision for the future- this report can be a gold mine!

2. Extra Credit? A+

Do know that going the extra mile - really does work! I regularly recommend creating a quick SWOT analysis to take into the interview (Obviously the relevance of a SWOT analysis is role specific) But an outline of the organizations Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats- shows the hiring manager that you are willing to put in additional work to stand out- and that you are well informed! A quick google search can give you more details about creating a SWOT analysis but if you need tips, please contact us and we’ll be glad to help.

3. Questions and Answers

Do rehearse (out loud is even better) answers to the most common interview questions such as “Can you tell me more about your previous role?” or “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”. I once had a client who attended an interview, where the hiring manager read through a list of 30 questions in about an hour and expected my client to have an answer to each one of those questions (the manager didn’t ask any follow up questions either) I would like to imagine that at most interviews the recruiter or hiring manager is trying to ascertain if a person is a good ‘fit’ for the available role, in addition to possessing the necessary skills and qualifications. And I fail to see how a list of 30-40 questions could help the candidate or the hiring manager, understand anything about the job, the organization or even each other.

That said, as a candidate you must try to be prepared for all situations. One of the most important questions, that I believe, you should prepare for is “Why do you want to work here?” Possible answers to this question include the organization’s beliefs, their mission, their vision- and how you see yourself contributing to their overall goals. You need to be able to show the hiring manager that you’re excited at the prospect of being part of the organization and If you’ve put in the time to research the company, answering this important question will be a lot easier.

4. What not to wear?

Do decide what you’ll be wearing in advance, choosing what to wear to an interview can be difficult. There are office dress codes where everyone walks around in jeans and flip flops and then there are offices where suits and ties are the norm. It’s particularly difficult to decide what to wear, especially when you haven’t even entered the office yet. So, what are your options? Well you could send an email to the company HR person and ask for a suggestion on what to wear. I have on occasion recommended to my clients that they wear an article of clothing that closely represents the color/colors of the organization. If the HR person or hiring manager notices, it shows that you’re aligned with the company’s brand and that you really are interested in being part of the organization.

Interviews can be a cause for stress and anxiety but a little planning and preparation can help. In addition, a little extra effort can't hurt when it comes to helping you get noticed. If you require more detailed information or you have any questions, you can email us at info@eightyeightcareers.com

Thanks for reading this! Now go ace that interview!

#interviewtips #interviewprep #interviewsuccess