Interview Preparation - Things To Keep In Mind

 

• You are interviewing the employer as much as they are interviewing you.
• It is important to listen to what the employer says, but also how they say it. This should give you an indication of how the office/company operates.
• Remember to be YOU in the interview; don’t try to act like the person you think they want to see.
• Remember to ask questions.
• Firm Handshake, Nice Smile, and Eye Contact.
• Don’t be afraid to ask an employer to explain or clarify something if you don’t understand them.
• Don’t forget to ask what the next step in the process is. Will they contact you? Will you contact them? When will they get back to you?
• Make mental notes of what makes this employer or conversation unique, so that when you are sending them a thank you, you can point out those unique qualities or conversations in the thank you. This will personalize your thank you.
• Whether the interview goes well or not, remember that the experience itself is a learning experience that you can apply in the future.
• Most importantly – Have fun!

 

25 Potential Questions for the Employer!

1. What qualities do you look for in an employee?
2. What are the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?
3. How did you know this was the company you wanted to work for?
4. Describe your office atmosphere.
5. What is the training like for new employees?
6. Could you describe your company's management style and the type of employee who fits well with it?
7. How did the position become available?
8. How is an employee evaluated?
9. What do you most enjoy and least enjoy about your work with this organization / company / agency?
10. What has your career path been with this organization?
11. What are some things you wish you would have known before you started working here?
12. Are there specific professional organizations employees have been encouraged to join?
13. What has your organization done recently to show how it values its employees?
14. What are the organization's/company's strengths and weaknesses compared to its competition?
15. How does upper management view the role and importance of this department and this position?
16. What is the organization's plan for the next five years, and how does this department fit in?
17. Could you explain your organizational structure?
18. What are the various ways employees communicate with one another to carry out their work?
19. What are some of the skills and abilities necessary for someone to succeed in this job?
20. What is the company's policy on providing seminars, workshops, and training so employees can keep up their skills or acquire new ones?
21. What particular computer equipment and software do you use?
22. What kind of work can someone in this position expect to be doing the first year?
23. How and by whom is an employee reviewed? Are there specific criteria upon which an employee will be evaluated? How frequently are formal and informal reviews given to new employees?
24. Can you describe an ideal employee?
25. What are the prospects for growth and advancement?