Perhaps the single most ambiguous tidbit of job interview advice is “be prepared.” What does that two-word phrase actually mean? After all, most people prepare themselves for anything. No one likes to be caught unprepared, and we even use the word prepared along with other phrases like “a meal,” “a presentation,” or even “an article on being prepared.” But when it comes to finding a job, being “prepared” truly is the most important thing. Being prepared involves not only being prepared for potential questions, but also knowing what facts about yourself will most impress the interviewer, coming up with questions you’d like the interviewer to answer, having your résumé and other important information about yourself on hand, and even recognizing and avoiding illegal interview questions. “Being prepared” encompasses a tremendously broad range of topics, yet it can fairly easily be achieved with just a few tips.
To begin with, research potential interview questions, either on the web or at your local library. Some common questions include:
- Tell me something about yourself.
- Why are you looking for a new job or why did you leave your old one?
- What are your goals, where would you like to be in five years?
- Why should we hire you? What is unique about you?
- What are your salary requirements?
You should also expect some more difficult questions, often aimed at targeting your behavior in certain situations. A few examples of these are:
- How do you define success? How “successful” have you been?
- What is the most adverse situation with which you have had to deal with in your personal or professional life? How did you deal with it? What was the outcome?
- What is the difference between a good position and an excellent one?
It is often beneficial to rehearse your answers to these and other questions, and if possible, have a friend ask you questions while you answer them. While this won’t entirely prepare you for the pressure of an interview, you will get accustomed to the feeling of answering questions that may or may not be related and you will be able to develop the responses that you think highlight your best qualities. Rather than being led by the questions you will be asked, remember to steer the conversation toward the topics you most want to express during the interview. You should ask yourself, “What is my goal in the interview?” and then respond to questions with that goal in mind.
Although learning what questions to expect and forming your answers beforehand is important, you should not neglect the opportunity that is given in most interviews to ask questions of the interviewer. When he or she asks if you have questions, many tend to answer, “no, I think you’ve covered everything I need to know.” This, however, is the wrong answer. Don’t pass up this excellent opportunity to learn more about the company—the information you find out could be the difference between deciding the job is perfect for you and deciding you should explore other avenues. Caution should be taken, however, as there are some questions that are inappropriate at certain times in the interview process. Asking about your number of vacation and sick days and how soon you could begin to use them is a sign to the interviewer that you’ll be more concerned with taking time off than with working for the company.
Some questions you should ask early in the interview process are:
- May I see a copy of the job description?
- Why has the job become available?
- What qualities are you seeking in the person for this job?
- What is the next step?
- When will you make your selection?
Try to keep questions about benefits, salary, stock options until later rounds of interviews (if there are multiple rounds—if not, don’t ask these questions). Also, don’t ask the interviewer a question he or she has already answered just for the sake of asking something, and don’t grill him or her about background—it’s alright to ask as an interested observer, but not as an interrogator. If you prepare five or six questions that you would like answered and write them down, you can take out your list when the time comes, showing good preparation on your part. Remember, don’t neglect this valuable opportunity to get the information you need to make the best decision.
The job interview can be the most stressful portion of the application process, but it doesn’t have to be. Realizing that the company is asking you difficult and pointed questions because it wants to determine if you are the perfect fit for the job. Said David Silver, an Executive Recruiter for Hayden Associates in Minneapolis, MN, “Statistics [according to the Small Business Association] show that 50 percent of all new hires stay with a company six months or less. A miss-hire may cost the company 30 to 50 percent above annual salary in lost productivity and replacement expenses.” Companies aren’t grilling you just because they like to see you squirm. Approach the interview with confidence in your own abilities and allow that confidence to win over the interviewer. You’ll find that this method of “preparation,” will help you across the board.