P is for...Preparation

“By failing to prepare you prepare to fail”

Why is it that we can sometimes take months to prepare for a wedding, move house, go on holiday or to take an exam or a driving test and yet for some reason job seekers take hardly anytime at all to prepare for an interview?

Too often I hear from people that they didn’t have the time to prepare for the all important job interview that will enable them to work in a better role that will lead to a higher income and therefore a life with more choices and job satisfaction.

Unless a serial job hopper then you can assume that most people haven’t interviewed for a while, sometimes 2 or 3 years or even more than 10 Years. Think back to when you were at school or university how much time did you take to prepare for your exams? Did you receive the results you had hoped for or can you now own up after all these years and acknowledge that perhaps you didn’t prepare enough?

Preparation is essential for all job seekers and below I have listed 5 points to consider when you secure that all important interview:

1) Research the Company – If possible obtain an information pack form the human resources department. Look up the company’s website and research the products and services they provide. What is their ‘Mission Statement’, who is their competition? The internet is a great source of information and you can set up a FREE Google Alerts http://www.google.com/alerts so that when an announcement has been made about the company you are interviewing, you will receive an email informing you. Imagine you found yourself stuck in the lift for five minutes with the MD – what would you say?

TOP TIP

In order to build a good rapport with the interviewer why not look them up on LinkedIn to find out if you have anything in common with them.

2) Read the Job Description – If you haven’t already received a copy then it’s important that you ask for one. How will you know if you’re right for the role if you don’t know what the company requires? Become familiar with both the job title and description, what skills and abilities are required for the role. Compare your experience and knowledge to the job description

TOP TIP

There have been times when an individual has been given the wrong job description or the requirements have changed. Take a copy with you to the interview in case you’re not familiar with the role that the interviewer is describing.

3) Know Yourself – What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your qualities and skills? What are your career aspirations? What do you expect from an employer? How much commitment are you willing to give?

TOP TIP

If unsure then speak to a colleague or friend who can help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses, qualities and skills

3) Prepare Questions – Asking good questions will leave a good impression and put you ahead of your competition even if your skills are not 100%. It’s always advisable to have 10 strong questions that you can ask either throughout the interview or towards the end. As you will generally find that a number of your questions will be answered by the interviewer before getting the opportunity to ask.

TOP TIP

If you have run out of questions to ask by the end of the interview then show the interviewer that you have listened with interest and ask for him / her to provide more information on a point that was mentioned during the interview.

4) Check Location – No feeling can be worse than realizing you’re at the wrong address just five minutes before the interview is scheduled to begin. Many companies in the City have more than one building so it’s always a good idea to check where you are going before heading off for an interview. Call up reception and make sure you’ve got the details absolutely clear.

TOP TIP

Have a trial run! Public transport can be unpredictable, check on-line for station closures or delays. If at any point there’s the slightest chance you might be running late then call and inform the person who will be interviewing you.

5) Take time off work – Rushing to an interview during your lunch period is not advisable. You need to be fresh and prepared, not stressed and hungry. Besides, how can you possibly conduct a good interview while watching the clock? The interview itself is nerve-racking enough without having to worry about being late back from lunch.

TOP TIP

If possible try and arrange and interview before or after work or even better take a half day so you have time to prepare.


Nikki Hutchison, founder of Chilli Pepper Global http://www.chillipepperglobal.com/
advising you on every aspect of the job seeking process guiding you step by step whether you are looking to move internally or externally.