Anticipate and prepare. It’s been a mandate practiced by the Boy Scouts for years, but it also has validity for securing a new job. For many of us the wait between putting out a resume and then anticipating a call from a potential employer is a time of hurry up and wait. The hurry part comes in sending out resumes to all the right places and then trying to patiently wait for the call-backs to start rolling in.
Use the Wait Time Wisely
Many times interview preparation starts after we secure an awaited call-back, but what could happen if you start the preparation before the call even comes? It might sound crazy, but there is a distinct advantage to practicing how you would answer the most common interview questions. You know the questions: why you are right for a position, what skills you bring to the job, and where you want to be in the next five to ten years. There’s a good chance these questions will be asked, so why not practice how to best answer them? Google’s senior vice president of people operations Laszlo Bock suggests writing those answers down to further engrain them in your brain.
Enhancing the Info Gathering Process
After you’ve made progress on finding out what kind of employee you want to be for your next employer, it’s time to turn your research sights to the company you’ll be interviewing as well as the people you’ll be speaking to. In addition to talking to the human resources person at the company it’s time to start researching the company and its employees online. Find out how the company fits into its industry and how your skills can play a beneficial role. After looking at a company’s website, check out the sites of their customers and competitors, network through Facebook and LinkedIn with former and current employees, and research salary guidelines for similar job titles in the area.
First Impressions Matter
No amount of research and preparation can substitute for a good first impression. It’s well-documented that first impressions happen in the initial 10 seconds of a meeting. The time after the first 10 seconds is spent justifying the accuracy of that first impression. A positive impression includes a resume that’s free of typos, dressing for the environment, and cluing into what’s important to the interviewer. Asking questions is a good way to convey interest in the position and the company. Never forego the opportunity to dig a little deeper into the job duties and company.
Interview Questions worth Asking
- What do you like most about working for this company and why do you feel that way?
- How has this position evolved? Why has the position changed?
- Can you provide examples of how I would collaborate with my manager? Why is this cooperation important?
- What are the first priorities for this position? Why were those picked as the most important steps?
- What are the challenges of this job? Why are those seen as potential hurdles?
- What have past employees done to succeed in this role? How is success measured?
- Do you have any hesitations about my qualifications? How can I remedy those questions?
(Business Insider)
As a top Kansas City recruiting firm since 1988, Austin Nichols Technical Search has served clients in a variety of fields. Austin Nichols specializes in direct hire and contract recruiting for manufacturing, construction, engineering, and technical positions.
