Add value through interview preparedness

Dear Sam:

I read your tips each week and was wondering if you could provide some general information on interviews. I haven’t interviewed in 23 years, so I feel a little lost as to what to expect.

Dear Edward:

Absolutely. I hear that question all the time from clients who have also not conducted a job search in some time. Many candidates invest time revamping their resume, not to mention hundreds of dollars on that perfect interviewing ensemble, but neglect to invest time preparing for the interview. Let’s review some of the basics.

ReseaRch

Before the interview, review the company’s website, reading the “About us” page, press releases, financial statements and strategic plans. Search the company online to glean additional details. Check LinkedIn and read profiles for current and past employees, which can provide insight into how long employees stay at the company.

Once armed with this information, review how your skills, experiences and achievements would translate well based on the prospective employer’s current situation.

pRepaRe

Are there certain questions you have had difficulty answering in the past? If so, script strong responses and practice answering them before the interview. Candidates often express difficulty in answering, “Tell me about yourself” and “Tell me about a weakness.”

When a prospective employer asks you to tell them about yourself, they are not asking you to tell them you are married and like to ski. They are asking, “What in your background positions you to excel in this role?”

To prepare for this question, identify messages that convey the skills you can offer and their benefits to the prospective employer. Don’t just tell them what you can do, show them that your skills and actions have led to positive results. Let’s look at some examples of how to do so:

What (

Don’t say, “I have great organization skills.” Do say, “I have repeatedly increased department productivity by streamlining processes, reducing redundancies and improving workflow.”

Don’t say, “I manage people well.” Do say, “I have a proven record of building, training and motivating top-performing teams.”

Most candidates also struggle when asked to identify a weakness. The point of this question is to see if you can identify an area in yourself that requires improvement, and if you have taken steps to overcome it. You don’t have to present a glaring weakness, but you should provide insight into your ability to initiate corrective actions.

You can choose to highlight areas of weakness that have little to no impact on the position for which you are applying. Let’s say you were an accountant, a weakness in the area of public speaking may not diminish the strength of your candidacy. Be

Ask about the format of your interview before going. Interviews come in many shapes and sizes, including one-on-one, group and panel. Knowing whether you will face a group of six people versus an informal interview with the hiring manager can help you mentally prepare.

Interviewing can be stressful, but practicing and knowing how your strengths and experiences relate to your prospective employer’s needs can reduce anxiety and improve the success of your search. Samantha Nolan is a certified professional resume writer and owner of Ladybug Design, a full-service resume-writing firm. Reach her at 614-570-3442 or dearsam@ladybug-design.com.