Job Interview Preparation

In today's economy, every opportunity you have for a job interview should prompt you to do a great deal of preparation. There are several things you can do in advance to make sure you are ready for just about any question that might be tossed your way.

Mock Interview

Not everyone is automatically comfortable with job interviews. In fact, many people find them nerve wracking and are extremely nervous about the entire process. If you find yourself among those who are nervous about the prospect of going through a job interview, ask some of your friends to sit down with you and conduct some mock practice interviews. Have a set of questions that are typically asked at interviews for them to ask you and practice your answers, here is a good source for some typical interview questions. The more often you go through this process, the more comfortable you will be during the actual interview.

Research the Company

Frequently, when you go to job interviews, you will be speaking with managers who are experienced with the company. Occasionally, you will speak to a human resources recruiter who is a consultant, but this is not extremely frequent. Before going on the interview, go online and research the company. If they have a company website, read it thoroughly. Find out what kinds of products they have and their company history.

It can also be helpful to find out who the company principals are and learn little bit about their backgrounds and management style. Besides the company profile, also look online and see if you can find out additional information about the company and their products. For example, find out if there are published forecasts about upcoming products or if there have been company profiles published in leading magazines or industry websites.

As you go through your job interview, answer questions in a way that demonstrates your knowledge of the company. Ask questions about upcoming products and the future growth of the company.

Learn About Your Interviewer

When you set up the interview, find out whom you will be speaking with. In some cases, you may be speaking to several different people. Do some online research and find out what you can about their background and history. LinkedIn is a good resource to check for business profiles and background. However, be prepared to be flexible, since company plans can change unexpectedly and you might end up interviewing with someone different.

Talk to Someone Inside the Company

Insiders can give you great information about the company. They can provide you with tips on the company culture and what to expect during the interview. They can also give you on specific information that the interviewer might be looking for or characteristics the company values in their employees. If you are really outgoing, consider finding someone who works for the company through a social networking site like LinkedIn or Facebook and send them an email asking if they could offer you any advice for an upcoming job interview. You might be surprised to find how receptive people are to your request, particularly if they are enthusiastic about where they work.

Learn About the Company Interview Process

Each company has its own set of interview questions. One wonderful source of information about company interviews is Glassdoor. This site provides lists thousands of companies and provides feedback from people who have interviewed for jobs at these companies. Some of the reviews contain specific information about what questions are asked and what the company is looking for during the job interview process. When you know what to expect in a job interview, it can make the process much more tolerable.

Know What is in Your Resume

Before going on a job interview, you should know exactly what is on your resume. It is not uncommon for people to custom-tailor their resume for each job application. If this is something you do, make sure you keep a good record of exactly what resume you sent so that you can review it before the interview. Make every attempt to memorize your job history, dates and duties so that you will not need to constantly refer back to your resume to answer questions. You will look much more professional and knowledgeable if you can answer questions easily and immediately.

Get a Good Night's Rest and Relax

Above all else, make sure that you take care of yourself the day and night before your big interview. Eat well and avoid eating troublesome foods right before the interview. This means avoiding foods that might give you digestive distress or you might have a bad reaction to. Also, get to bed early and make sure you sleep well. It can be very easy to become overly anxious and not sleep. Try to stop anxiety from spinning out of control by listening to relaxing music and reading something you enjoy.

Ultimately, if you are well prepared, self confident, warm and outgoing, you will do well in almost any job interview. Walk in the door with a smile and a firm handshake and know that you are qualified and can do the job at hand.