Easy Job-Search Conversations
Preparation is how you avoid perspiration. By being prepared, you will skillfully facilitate conversation. Conducting preinterview preparation builds your confidence, provides focus for communication, and enhances outcomes. Too many candidates spend hour after hour researching historical facts and obscure figures associated with an organization, unnecessarily increasing their anxiety. These individuals research companies too much and pay too little attention to their own backgrounds and job descriptions. They don't review resumes, and they limit qualifications criteria analysis to a quick perusal of brief, oversimplified job announcements. Here are some easy-to-follow guidelines for last minute prepping.
Call Ahead
Two or three days before your interview, e-mail or call the employer to confirm your meeting and to request a copy of the job description and a company profile. Offer to stop by to pick up the information or ask if it can be e-mailed or express mailed. Specifically ask this question: Are there questions or issues I should focus on to prepare for our meeting? Imagine how well you can prepare if you receive a list of potential questions or critical issues to examine. You would be surprised how often interviewers will provide this information when asked.
Clarify logistics of the day, particularly for callback interviews, arranged after initial telephone or in-person screening discussions. Know how many people you will be seeing and what to expect of your visit. Don't fear stupid questions, including asking for directions; the more information you have, the smarter you will appear on the day of the interview.
Queries can be made by phone. If you can't get through to the appropriate person(s), leave a voicemail message, followed quickly by an e-mail or faxed note, and then, later in the day, by another call. If you start a few days prior to the interview, you have a greater chance of receiving a response.
Specific Research
Conduct an Internet search or visit a reference librarian, seeking information on the firm and, most important, on general current events articles on the field involved. If possible, enter a few keywords into a general search engine or into search options within the company's Web site. Don't dwell too long on researching the prospective employer. Basic and topical information on the field involved is often much more valuable.
You should be able to discuss industry trends, major players, and what's hot and what's not within the field. While somewhat retro, reference librarians are still competent problem solvers. They thrive on the challenge of locating hard-to-find information under the pressure of a pending deadline. Also, just as a sports fan regularly reads the sports section of the newspaper, don't forget to read the business or related sections of local papers and professional publications.
Online Networking
A Web site such as
If you care to be bold, you might consider e-mailing one of these members to ask for some insight into their position's highlights and challenges. Many people are flattered by this kind of communication, the same way they are flattered to be contacted by a recruiter. This kind of proactive job searching can give you critical knowledge that will set you apart as the candidate of choice.
Timing Is Everything
Arrive approximately twenty minutes early, check in, and, if you haven't already done so, ask if you can review a copy of the job description as well as literature describing the nature of the organization and significant events of the past year. Sit down in a comfortable area and review your resume and cover letter. It's amazing that most job seekers forget this very simple preparation activity. Think about it. What do interviewers review when determining whom to meet? What do they review immediately before and during the interview? Most definitely, the answer is your resume and cover letter.
Bring a favorite photo with you to relieve any stress. It's hard to stay tense when looking at a smiling face of a friend or beloved pet. You cannot help but calm down a bit by glancing at a picture of someone or something that always makes you feel better. Do this discreetly while you are waiting for your interview, not during the interview.
Don't forget to review these documents before your interview. Mark critical points or make notes on the back. This one-page personal note sheet can be very effective. Have extra copies of your resume available in case you meet with someone who doesn't have one.
Questions and Answers
Ask two questions within the first ten minutes of the interview, and bring copies of your work to show. Questions should be variations on “What are the qualities you are seeking for this position?” and “What specific expectations in terms of output and outcomes do you have for the person who holds this job?” This will allow you to gain a greater understanding of the position and reflect qualifications later in the interview. The more you learn early in the conversation, the better. Remember, an interview is simply a conversation with a purpose. It is not an adversarial right or wrong or “the interviewer is out to get me” process. Be enthusiastic, optimistic, and inquisitive.
Putting It All Together
Sweaty palms, knotted guts, and beads of sweat are too-frequent physical and psychological symptoms on interview day. If you prepare and have the proper attitude, interviews can be fun. When else is it okay to brag and speak about yourself in positive ways for an hour or two? After creating and reviewing your resume, you should be very appropriately egocentric, focusing on you. You're a great candidate, or you would not have been invited to interview. Enjoy the chance to share your pride in your achievements as well as your personal visions of your future.
