College Crunch

Almost anytime that you go for a new job, whether with a separate company or a promotion with your current one, you will be required to do an interview. Not everyone interviews well, but everyone can improve on their own performances in these interviews.

Now there are as many different interview techniques as there are people, so you have to be careful about taking on any specific interviewing or job hunting advice. But one of the mainstays is to make sure that you are prepared for any questions you might be asked in the interview.

First port of call for this preparation is your own resume. You need to make sure that you have been entirely honest on the resume as you will be quizzed about it in detail. About your previous experience at companies, any stats that you have given, why there are gaps in your employment history etc. It is vital you know the answers to these and can reel the answers off in a quick and painless fashion.

Next is the answer to the stock questions. Now I am afraid I can’t answer these for you as everyone is different but in most interviews you will get variations on these questions

1. Why do you want to work for the company?
2. What can you bring to the company?
3. What are your best qualities?
4. What are your worst faults?
5. Why should we hire you?

I can almost guarantee that you will be asked at least two, if not all five, of those questions at any interview you go to, so make sure you have the answers ready and professional sounding. It will sound a lot better, and reflect more positively upon yourself come decision time, if you can say something straight away rather than pausing whilst making something up on the spot.

Remember to check out the companies website and press mentions. Many interviewers love it when you are able to answer their questions with information you have looked up about the company, especially when it puts the company in a good light. It shows that

a) you have bothered to prepare for the job interview
b) that you are impressed by whatever bit of press it is

So many candidates at interviews miss this stage out that you will be ahead of the game if you do take this very important interviewing tip up.

Finally is market knowledge. If you think you got brownie points for knowing what the company you are being interviewed by is doing try seeing what happens if you give them answers that talks about what rival companies in their industry/niche are doing! This is the sort of thing that can really set you apart from other candidates interviewing for the job. Talk about rivals plans and changes, most of which can be found with a simple Google search, and about market share and saturation and the interviewers will be impressed by your knowledge, research and dedication… three of the most vital areas to cover when going for any job.

So there you have it, now you know just what to cover when going for a job to ensure that you are always able to answer any questions in a professional manner that sets you in a good light. Remember that old saying ‘the more I prepare, the luckier I seem to get’. Get yourself prepared and I won’t have to wish you luck, you’ll already have got it yourself.