You have applied for a job with your excellent resume and cover letter. Finally the phone rings and you are shortlisted for an interview. Now the preparation really begins. How do you prepare?
Anxiety, loss of confidence, worrying about making a good first impression, not knowing what to expect, feeling that you know very little about the company, wondering about the competition are things that sometimes weigh heavily. Do they need to come into play?
Have you ever thought that interviews could be fun? Like dating? In many ways they are similar. You are going to meet with one or several representatives of a company to see if you like who they are, if your values are similar, if what they advertise or say they are looking for is really what they want. You get to get into his environment, check him out, and see how well he fits in. You can also introduce yourself however you want.
The attitude we use to approach a job interview is our choice. It could lead to a good match and therefore a job offer; Or it could lead to an increase in your network and a new friend. Either way, you meet new people, do some research on a company, and see yourself exploring opportunities.
Interviews really need to be conversations, good quality dialogues that are meaningful, valuable, and help both parties determine if the mix will be right. If you approach an interview with the intention of having a good conversation, it might help you relax a bit and not feel like it’s an unbalanced situation. A colleague of mine told me that she approaches an interview with the goal of finding out as much as she can about the other person and, in many ways, uses soft, coaching questions that illustrate her curiosity and ability to listen and integrate.
Companies are investing considerable resources these days in recruiting. Some areas are in high demand and some are not. Your unique skill set and experience, along with your potential, is what you have to offer. You may have multiple offers or find yourself searching for months for the right position. Either way, the way you approach your interview is a first impression, on both sides. How impressive you are and how impressed you are by the company with their hiring process. Interviews should be informative, and the best ones should make you feel like the people are real and that you think you can not only contribute, but have fun along the way. Prepare for your next interview in a way that fits exactly who you are; this will ensure that you find a good match.