What Does Preparing for the Interview Mean?

November 16, 2017 Sherri Sacks

It’s usually the first piece of advice you will get after you announce you have a job interview. “Be sure to prepare!”

But what does that mean, and what is the best way to be as prepared as possible?

First, to prepare for your interview means to pay attention to the whole interview, from before you greet the receptionist to how you execute good follow-up after the meeting.

Here are the key steps to perfecting your preparation:

Before the Interview

Respond quickly and professionally to the person who is scheduling the interview, being as flexible as possible with your availability;
If you are unsure about the employer’s location, make a practice run via whatever transportation you plan on using on interview day. Travel at the same time as the interview so you can get a sense of traffic, surprise detours, or anything else that might affect the trip;
Practice your succinct answers to these two questions: (1) Tell me about yourself, and (2) Why are you interested in this job? Look critically at your resume to prepare for challenging or detailed questions about time gaps, projects, successes or failures;
Read the company’s website, checking out its latest news. Think of ways to connect what they are doing to what you would do on the job

At the Interview

Be no more than 10 minutes early;
Be ready to ask meaningful questions about company strategy or culture;
Know how to answer “behavioral interview” questions;
Dress in formal business attire even if the company’s policy is business casual;
Have extra copies of your resume on hand.

After the Interview

Send a thank-you note to your interviewer via email or regular mail. If you met with more than one interviewer, you can send one to the hiring manager and include all colleagues in your thanks;
Repeat all of the above for the second interview.

You might be surprised how much your good preparation can make you stand out as an applicant.

Sherri Sacks is a Career Coach for the JCS Career Center. The JCS Career Center offers comprehensive employment services to help job seekers of all abilities and skill levels find and maintain employment or change their career. Services include career coaching, career assessments, resumes, interview preparation, and connections to employers who are hiring. For more information, call 410-466-9200 or visit jcsbaltimore.org.

Top photo: Resume (Photo by Flazingo Photos, Flickr)