As the economy shows signs of improvement with gains in employment numbers, more of us are interviewing for those jobs. Interviews are the single most important factor in getting hired. But are you ready?
There are many aspects to a great interview but today we look at 5 things you need to know before walking into your audition.
Recruiting is becoming more intense as HR departments develop more tools to separate the wheat from the chaff. If you think the interview is all about you, then think again–you need to know more about them than they know about you.
Know their website inside and out. Read their Mission Statement. Review the About Us section. Then go deeper, because most other candidates won’t.
Know their social media presence. Check out each platform and look at the number of people following or liking, know what types of postings they create and most importantly, follow or like them.
Know where the interview is and how long it takes to get there. Know what route you need to take, know where you plan on parking, and factor in any possible traffic issues. Plan enough time and then add 30 minutes. It’s always better to spend time sitting in your car rather than being late.
Know the job description. Understand each bullet point and know what they seek. Better yet, know what you will say if they ask you about your capabilities–these should sound like the ideal match for the posting.
Know the people you are meeting! Do I really have to say this? Yes! It’s surprising how many people don’t Google the person they are meeting, the CEO and other major players at the company, and even the HR department heads. Don’t tip them off to your looking them up, just have the info and use it to your advantage. (For example, say you find that you share an alma mater with someone. Conveniently mention your own schooling and let them bring it up!)
There’s a lot more that goes into a good interview but if you don’t know these 5 things, you are already behind before you even walk in the door.
Jason Veduccio is the author of The New American Dreamer: How to Land That Ideal Job in a Nightmare Economy. Click to buy.
