How to be successful in an interview. It's simple- be prepared!

May 1, 2014

Prepping for an interview can be a stressful thing—What to wear? What to ask? What to share? These are common questions that everyone asks themselves prior to an interview. The best way to be successful in an interview is to PREPARE. A prepared person is a successful person. Here are a few tips on how to best prepare:

1- Get to know the company. Review their website and familiarize yourself with what the company does, where they are located, their mission statement and also with whom you will be meeting. If you only have their name and a bio is not available on the company website, use LinkedIn as a tool to learn about the person with whom you are meeting. Do a little research to see if you have any commonalities, find out where they went to school and gather other specifics about the person that might help to break the ice and start the conversation.

2- Study the job description of the position for which you are interviewing. Write down some specific examples of professional experience that apply to the main buzz words of the job description. Be able to relate those buzz words to past experiences.

3-Dress to impress. It may not be your favorite thing to wear, but dust off the suite hanging in the back of your closet. When you are dressed professionally, it helps with your confidence.

4- Have a few questions of your own prepared. Ask questions that may not have yet been answered during your conversation-- about the position, about the company, about the potential for growth, or even things that might help make the hiring manager's job a little easier.

5- Always take copies of your resume and be sure to get the interviewer's business card so you can follow up with a thank you note.

6-Make eye contact, be yourself, listen, and share without interrupting.

If you follow these common steps, you will be an ACE during an interview! Again—PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE. Good luck and I look forward to preparing you for your next interview.

By James Murdock - Search Consultant

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