Six things to take on a job Interview
Alan Kirshner
Career Coach | Career Counseling | Job Search | Interview Preparation | Resume | LinkedIn | Salary Negotiation | Career Guide | Career Path Guidance
You’ve landed a job interview with that company you are excited about and you are thinking about going in for the interview. There are six things that are very important to bring with you to the interview.
1. Written directions - It’s great to use Waze, a GPS or Google maps but occasionally the technology does not work. If your phone runs out of battery or the GPS freezes, it is nice to have a backup in the form of written directions. It is also a good idea if time permits to do a dry run so you are familiar with the area.
2. Contact information – Having the names and contact information of the people you will be speaking with is important for two reasons. First, it is good to know the names of the interviewers ahead of time so you can familiarize yourself with them. Second, it you are experiencing an unexpected delay arriving, you can contact someone by phone or e-mail to let them know the situation.
3. Job Description – Being able to review the job description and responsibilities right before the interview can be valuable. It reinforces what the company is looking for and helps you focus on those things.
4. Resume – You might be surprised how often someone on the interview panel forgets to bring a copy or your resume or an additional interviewer joins the panel and was not given a resume. Having extra copies of your resume shows that you are organized and prepared for sudden changes.
5. Questions – Always prepare at least three questions. This is a way of showing your interest in the position and that you came prepared for the inevitable question of “Do you have any questions for me?” Also, it is helpful to ask questions to learn more about the company and help determine if it is the right fit for you.
6. Positive Attitude – One of the most critical aspects of an interview is selling yourself and demonstrating why you are the best candidate for the position. Going in with confidence and a positive attitude are very important toward achieving this end.
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5yI would add to the list, extra clothes (assuming you are going by car). That way you are prepared for a quick change if you spill coffee in transit, or while relaxing at Starbucks beforehand.
Great advice and should be taught at school, colleges, etc. May I add : 1. In the interview use the formulas You, Me and Us. i.e. ask questions and show you know the organisation; outline how you believe you can contribute and what you could do together. 2. Ask the recruiter what contribution he/she thinks you could make and ,if accepted, how your career could develop. Get the interviewer already visualising employing you and let his/her imagination do the rest. N.b. Be humble. Many organisations prefer people with no pretensions who accept to start at the bottom, be trained by them and work their way up through justified promotion. It could be a major mistake to expect a ‘position that corresponds to my academic qualifications’.
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5yGreat checklist to have in your back pocket Alan! Thanks for sharing.
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5yAlan Kirshner, this is a good list reminding people (actually) the basics.
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5yVery sound advice Alan. I would add that the questions need to be of the variety that you can't get the answer any other way. If the question is too simple and/or can be found easily online, then dig a little deeper for a more substantial question.