Interview Preparation - Things To Keep In Mind
Page address: http://www.mnsu.edu/cdc/interviewing/interviewpreparation_keep.html
- 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!
- What qualities do you look for in an employee?
- What are the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?
- How did you know this was the company you wanted to work for?
- Describe your office atmosphere.
- What is the training like for new employees?
- Could you describe your company's management style and the type of employee who fits well with it?
- How did the position become available?
- How is an employee evaluated?
- What do you most enjoy and least enjoy about your work with this organization / company / agency?
- What has your career path been with this organization?
- What are some things you wish you would have known before you started working here?
- Are there specific professional organizations employees have been encouraged to join?
- What has your organization done recently to show how it values its employees?
- What are the organization's/company's strengths and weaknesses compared to its competition?
- How does upper management view the role and importance of this department and this position?
- What is the organization's plan for the next five years, and how does this department fit in?
- Could you explain your organizational structure?
- What are the various ways employees communicate with one another to carry out their work?
- What are some of the skills and abilities necessary for someone to succeed in this job?
- What is the company's policy on providing seminars, workshops, and training so employees can keep up their skills or acquire new ones?
- What particular computer equipment and software do you use?
- What kind of work can someone in this position expect to be doing the first year?
- 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?
- Can you describe an ideal employee?
- What are the prospects for growth and advancement?