Securing the interview is akin to making the playoffs (sorry Seattle Mariners and Sacramento Kings fans). It is an achievement in that you have somehow managed to stand out amongst a pile of resumés, applications, walk-ins, and Dave in Accounting’s just graduated pothead son who was recommended since he and the HR Director are golfing buddies. Fortunately for you, Dave’s son got tied up watching the Mystery Science Fiction Theatre 3000 marathon and is in a very “hazy” state. So, that leaves you and a handful of other candidates. It is your time to shine!
So how the heck are you going to shine above all others in a job interview. You weren’t thinking of just going in there unprepared and winging it were you? I guess you could if you have the type of persuasiveness that rival the best hypnotists!
No you are like the rest of us and are gonna have to prepare. So, what are some of the things you can do before walking into that interview room? (NOTE: Whether you have had a phone interview or not before hand is irrelevant as you will most likely need to refamiliarize your self with the interviewer.) To prepare for an interview:
- Find out as much as you can about the Company. Go on their website. Google for news articles and press releases. The easiest way to weed someone out of the interview process is to ask “so what have you found out about the company?” and not be prepared for that question.
- Have nice interview clothes. We will get into dressing for an interview later, but jorts and tube tops probably are not gonna get you hired at most companies.
- Get a nice notepad / notebook holder and a notebook. Bring a pen too! Be ready to take copious notes which shows interest on your part.
- That notebook is gold and it is going to be your most important prop. You’re going to need it so that you are ready to ask questions!
Wait…what? But you thought you were being interviewed and you were only going to be asking questions. It is your chance to shine by asking good probing questions to find out about the company, the industry, the position and anything else you can think of so you can also determine if you can avoid accepting a shitty job. The mentality of the interviewee shouldn’t be “I hope they like me and hire me.” It should be “I am going to find out if this job is a good match for my skills and if the culture of this company is a match for my personality.”
The interviewer is going to be looking for a reason to NOT hire you and to NOT make a hiring mistake. Who the hiring manager hires is also a reflection on him or her. No one wants to have their professional judgment questioned for hiring some crazy clown who leaves their toe nail clippings on the breakroom table. More importantly, you also don’t want to make a serious career mistake or end up working for the next Mussolini.
So what are the questions to best ask during an interview? How do you find out if your potential future boss is a potential dictator? How do you find out if its a cool place to work or a sweatshop where no one is appreciated for their efforts? Read on, fair reader!