Welcome to part 1 of a 3 part post relating to interview questions and answers.
Interview questions and answers are only part of the overall preparation for the interview. The interview is the big event. All of your time spent completing job applications, submitting resumes, tailoring cover letters and responding to job advertisements have led you to this. Over the next several posts, I am blogging on information that will provide you with key steps to perform at your best and put you in the optimal position for a job offer.
Step 1: Know your audience. Knowing your interview audience and the company will most assuredly help you with preparing your interview questions and answers. For the interview, is it a panel or individual? If a panel, how many will be included? For the company, what kind of company is it? Is it privately held or publicly traded? How long have they been in business? Who is their target audience? Are they the industry leader or a strong competitor? Where are their corporate headquarters located? Do your research and make notes on your discoveries. Gather annual reports, industry/sector news, study their website, investigate them on Hoovers, talk to current/past employees, etc. The more you know of the company, the history, niche, competitors, business model and growth plans, the more prepared you’ll be to discuss their needs and how you are the person to solve their problem.
Step 2: Anticipate and respond to their interview questions and answers. The typical interview lasts a good 60 minutes. During the first few minutes, the interviewer will usually set the tone by providing information on the company and the position. They will then refer to your resume, cover letter, portfolio, and any other information you provided, and begin asking you questions. These questions include: “Tell me a little about yourself.”; “Where do you expect to see yourself in 3-5 years?”; “What do you find compelling about this position?”; “What do you see as your key strengths and weaknesses?”; “We are interviewing many strong candidates, why should we hire you?”; “Why did you leave your last employer?”
These are standard interview questions and answers that you need to be prepared to respond to. Some of these interview questions may be uncomfortable for you. There is no excuse in showing your discomfort because you know they are coming your way. Practice your responses. Consider role playing with an objective person to help you smooth out your answers.
Check back tomorrow for two more methods to successful job interviewing.
