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#BestofFSCBlog : Over 12K Reads- A Crash Course In What To Do Before Going Into A Job Interview. Interview Coming Up? MUst REAd!

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The more you research, prepare and practice before the interview, the better your chances of succeeding. In fact, the greater your knowledge is of the job at hand, the industry and your prospective employer, the more relaxed and confident you will feel.

Self-confidence will serve you well when interviewing for a new job, as interviewers pick up on this. If you come across confident and adept, you will be viewed favorably.

You can empower yourself by thoroughly reviewing the job description, conducting due diligence on the company, researching the interviewers on LinkedIn, cleaning up your social media footprint, role-playing interview questions and preparing the questions you’ll ask beforehand.

Be Courteous About The Dates And Times Of The Interview

Be reasonable and understanding when scheduling interview times. Politely ask the interviewers what days and times work best for them. Avoid requesting an early Monday meeting or late on Friday, especially during the summer or on the eve of a holiday weekend. By doing this, the company will recognize that you are empathetic and polite. It will immediately make you look good in their eyes.

Closely Read The Job Description

One of the first things you must do is thoroughly read the job description. You want to lead by letting the interviewer know you’re well-informed about the company and the job advertisement requirements. It’s appreciated when you can clearly and concisely match your background with what’s required for the role.

The interviewer will ask, “What do you know about our company?” In preparation for the meeting, you must scour the company’s website and the internet to learn as much as possible about the firm, its management team, products and services and reputation. You should also have a basic knowledge of what is happening in the industry and any challenges the company might face.

Showing you did your due diligence signals to the interviewer that you are smart, capable and interested in the job opportunity.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit & contact us @ www.firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Find Who You Know At The Company

Tap into your network to find out if you have any connections at the organization. If so, reach out to them and politely grill them for all the insider information you can get, which will offer a competitive advantage. If you have a close relationship with a senior-level person at the company, ask them to put in a good word with human resources, the hiring manager or anyone involved in the interview process. The recommendation will go a long way and make you stand out, as this person has personally vouched for you.

Practice Outloud Your Elevator Pitch

Although you know what you do in your job and did in prior positions, it always sounds better in your head than when you say it out loud for the first time. To convey this seamlessly in an interview, outline an elevator pitch—a clear and concise 30-second to a one-minute advertisement about yourself. Keep practicing the pitch until you are on autopilot. Although you will have rehearsed it numerous times, avoid coming across robotically. The key is to let your genuine and authentic self shine through.

Role Play Answering Commonly Asked Interview Questions

There are several frequently asked interview questions, such as, “Tell me about yourself. Where do you see yourself in five years? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Why do you want to work for this company? Tell me about a time when you faced a challenge at work.” Research these types of questions and role-play answering them with a friend or colleague, who can offer honest and constructive feedback on your responses.

Conduct A LinkedIn Search Of Your Interviewers, As They Are Snooping On You Too

Interviewers and other people involved in the hiring process will peek at your LinkedIn profile and search your social media postings on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other sites. You want to make sure that there is nothing inflammatory that could cause a problem.

In the same right, you should conduct an online search of the interviewers to learn more about them. Seek out what interests and things you have in common. For instance, maybe you live in close proximity, attended the same college or are fans of the same sports teams. Small talk is an underappreciated skill. It’s a superpower. By having insights into the interviewers, you can break the ice by bringing up last night’s game or talking about your alma mater. You’ll create a quick bond, lending to a much more excellent collegial conversation.

Get The Inside Scoop From Your Recruiter

Ask your recruiter to share everything they know about the company, the people you’re meeting with, the corporate culture and any nuances you should know about. The headhunter will know about layoffs on the horizon, whether workers are happy or not and if there is a turnstile of employee turnover. If the search agent worked with the hiring manager in the past, ask what you need to know about the person, so you’ll have a vibe about the interviewer before you enter the room or video call.

What To Do Right Before The Interview

Don’t wait until the last minute for Zoom video interviews to check your internet connectivity, lighting, sound quality and background. Similarly, if you are going into an office, map out your commute days before the interview to gauge the timing and ensure you know where you are going. Arrive onsite early, have several copies of your résumé on hand and dress appropriately.

Before the interview commences, give yourself a pep talk. Use self-affirmations or mantras. Get your body moving to get your blood flowing and energy pumped up.

 

Forbes.com Author: Jack Kelly Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.
Forbes.com | April 25, 2023

 

#JobSearch : Job Interview Preparation Tips to Help You Stand Out. Do your Homework, You Will be Prepared for Anything the Interviewer Throws at You.  

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You have put time and effort into your job application, perhaps polishing up your résumé and crafting a well-constructed cover letter, earning you a coveted interview. Now is your chance to show why you are a great candidate and how you would fit in with your potential team.

If you do your homework, you will be prepared for anything the interviewer throws at you.  

1. Study the job description and the employer’s mission statement.

Get into the right mind-set by reminding yourself what the job entails and reading the employer’s mission statement, if it has one. Make a list of reasons why this job may be the right fit for your career journey, such as the skills, experience and network you would gain. Focusing on how this job will help you achieve your career goals is a good way to get excited about the role—even if it is not your dream job. This will help you to express why you want the job and to convey enthusiasm during the interview.

Think about what makes you the best candidate for this job. Look at your résumé, and pick out which parts of it align with the job requirements. Write down examples of how you tackled particular projects or problems in your previous experience at work, school or elsewhere in your life that demonstrate you have the skills the employer is looking for. As you work through the job description and mission statement, make a list of your proudest accomplishments that could be used as examples. If you are suffering from imposter syndrome, this can also help you recognize why you are the right person for the job.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, LLc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of corporate partners in the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment !

 

Article continued …

2. If you are nervous about the job interview, prepare answers to tough questions about gaps in your résumé or background.

Make a list of anything in your background or résumé that makes you feel nervous and prepare explanations for gaps you may have in your experience. “If there’s something that freaks you out, sit down and…think about how you’re going to present it in the best possible way,” says Pamela Skillings, chief executive of BigInterview.com, an interview training website.

 

“Redirect and reframe. Bring up some of the positives that will ease any concerns,” Ms. Skillings says.

 

3. Practice your interview question responses ahead of time.

Study some of the top interview questions that may be asked of you.

“Practicing is key,” Ms. Skillings says. “A lot of smart people don’t do it because it feels awkward, but it makes such a huge difference.” Practicing talking about yourself is important at any level of your career. Even senior executives who are “great communicators” sometimes struggle to talk about themselves, she says.

You have already compiled a list of all of the reasons you are a great fit for the role. Now it is time to synthesize and communicate them. If you can’t find someone to practice with, do it in front of a mirror or record a video of yourself. If you don’t like to talk up your own accomplishments, focus on communicating, clearly and efficiently, why your skills and experience meet each requirement of the role. Practicing helps you to identify anything that might distract from the substance of what you have to say.

Top tip: Observe the way you present yourself. If there is anything you are not fully comfortable with, now is the time to address it. If it is your posture, practice sitting up straight. If you notice a distracting habit, like playing with your hair or fidgeting, be aware of it and try to avoid it. Find an alternative place for your hands, such as on the table.

Be authentic. A May 2020 study found that people who behave authentically during a job interview do better overall than those who try to cater to an interviewer’s interests and expectations. This is because it takes a lot of mental energy to try to be someone you are not, which ultimately increases anxiety and could ruin your efforts to create a positive, authentic connection with your interviewer.

4. Make your final job interview preparations.

Write down some thoughtful questions, and be prepared to ask them during or at the end of your interview.

To help combat nerves, visualize a successful interview. Many top athletes use this technique before a big game to focus and reaffirm their positive outlook. Some CEOs have also credited the technique with helping them achieve their goals.

If there is a gap of time in your résumé when you weren’t employed, think about what you gained during that time. Perhaps you learned important life skills or experienced personal growth, which you can present as assets. For example:

  • If you were traveling, you could talk about what you learned from exploring new cultures, and how you would bring those insights into your job.
  • If you were caring for a child or a loved one, you could discuss how the experience shaped you and gave you fresh perspectives.

“If there’s something that freaks you out, sit down and…think about how you’re going to present it in the best possible way.”

— Pamela Skillings, BigInterview.com

Prepare to address any gaps in your knowledge or experience. If the job description mentions anything that you are not fully familiar with, read up on the subject until you are comfortable discussing it at length. If there are requirements in the job description you don’t have direct professional experience with, think about what you have done at work or elsewhere in your life that demonstrates you have the skills required. If a job requires previous management experience and you have never been a manager in title, perhaps you have led a project, mentored and trained colleagues or filled in for your boss while they were away.

If, after carefully considering your work experience, you still have a gap you can’t fill, acknowledge it and prepare to talk about how you would learn this skill on the job.

 

WSJ.com | February 19, 2021 | Deborah Acosta

#JobSearch : 10 Things You Should Always Bring With You to an Interview. If You Want to Be One of the “Chosen” to Land an Interview, You Must Be at the Top of your Game.

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The current state of the economy and the job market has made it challenging to find a job. If you want to be one of the “chosen” to land an interview, you must be at the top of your game. No longer is it enough to simply appear at an interview dressed in a suit and armed with a positive attitude. Today’s candidates must be thoroughly prepared for each interview they attend.

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

An important component of that preparation is knowing the ten things you should always bring with you to an interview.

  1. Five copies of your resume – even if you have submitted your resume electronically, it is still important to bring along hard copies. In many cases, candidates will find themselves interviewed by multiple managers, so it is always important to have enough resumes to go around.
  2. Professional references – be sure to bring a list of 3-5 professional references. Include each reference’s contact information, including email address as well as the capacity by which they know you.
  3. Personal references – more and more companies are turning to personal references to round out the interview process, so bring a list of personal references as well. Phone numbers, email address, and relationship should be carefully noted for each reference.
  4. Work History – keep a list of your previous employers, including physical address, phone number, employment dates, and manager names. Being unable to provide this information is unprofessional and may raise an eyebrow or two.
  5. Education – bring a list of each school you attended, the address, and the degree, or program studied.
  6. Skills – As technology continues to evolve, many potential employers are interested in what programs candidates have mastered. You should also include any specialized skills or equipment you can operate
  7. Questions – almost all hiring managers will end the interview by asking if the candidate has any questions – prepare a list in advance. It is a great idea to do this by carefully reviewing the company website. The questions should be thought provoking and relevant.
  8. Documentation – Bring along any professional certifications, as well as a valid driver’s license and social security card. In the event that the position is immediately offered to you, you will have all of the information needed with you.
  9. Samples – Many jobs require a candidate to provide samples of their work. Be sure to bring along representations of your best work. This applies to almost all jobs. For example, an architect may bring along samples of their designs while a teacher might bring lesson plans or an example of a teaching plan.
  10. Attitude – never underestimate the power of your attitude – remember you are selling yourself, so it is crucial you come prepared to do just that. Be well rested and eat shortly before your interview.

Being adequately prepared for an interview is the first step towards has a successful session. Be sure to prepare your interview items in advance so you are not rushing around trying to locate everything right before your interview.

 

FSC Career Blog Author:  Ms. Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog | October 29, 2020