Preparing for Interviews

How should you prepare for an upcoming interview? How can you make the best impression on interviewers so that they can see that you are the right candidate for the job?

Here is some advice on how to proceed.


Research companies

You should research the company before going to the interview so that you can speak to the company's needs. Check out the company website as well as any press releases or periodical articles to find out what issues they are facing. You can also use Standard and Poors as well as Dun & Bradstreet to find out about the health of the company. Try to weave some of this data into your answers early on in the interview process so that the interviewer(s) will know that you have done your homework.

Research the interviewer(s)

Do your due diligence before going to the interview, finding out as much as you can about the interviewer(s) through ZoomInfo and LinkedIn. On both ZoomInfo and LinkedIn you can find information about the interviewer’s background, including positions held and education. On LinkedIn you can view the groups the interviewer is a part of as well as the questions that this person has responded to. This research can really pay off as you establish rapport with the interviewer(s) based on the information that you have about them.

Practice interviewing

Practice your answers to commonly asked interview questions so that you come across as a well-prepared candidate. Interviewers usually start with the statement, "Tell me about yourself," so you should be prepared to speak about your qualifications as they relate to the position. Let the interviewer know from the start that you are right for this position.

Questions to anticipate

What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
How would your former boss/co-workers describe you?
What interests you most about this position?
What do you know about our company?
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer.
What would you do if you were asked to do something unethical on the job?
Why should I hire you?
Do you have any questions?

These are commonly asked questions that you should prepare answers for before your interview. You do not want to go to the interview and then have to think of an answer on the spot.

Questions you can ask the interviewer

Could you please describe the ideal candidate for this job for me?
What are the company's strengths and weaknesses compared to its competition?
What would you consider to be the most important aspects of this job?
What types of skills do you NOT already have onboard that you're looking to fill with a new hire?
What are the next steps in the interview process?

You should always have questions for the interviewer. These are some sample questions, but it is also a good idea to come up with questions of your own that show that you have done your homework on the company.

At the interview

Arrive early so that you can check your appearance before meeting the interviewer(s) and make the best first impression. Convey confidence but not arrogance as you greet the interviewer with a firm handshake and comfortable eye contact.