The One-Two Punch To Knockout That Interview Panel
by: NalinWickramasuriya | Total views: 7 | Word Count: 477 | View PDF | Print View
There are two keys to preparing well for your interview.
The first is that you need to learn some things. You need to learn about the company, the job and yourself.
The second is that you need to communicate your thoughts well. You need to Anticipate the likely questions, develop excellent content around those question topics and then practice delivering that content in style!
For this article, I want us to focus on how you are going to develop the content needed to sell your skills well.
You must investigate as much as you can about the company. I would spend 4 hours preparing a 10 page report on every company that you are shortlisted for. There are two reasons for this, one the value of the report and secondly the value of the preparation.
Use this dossier to refresh your knowledge about the company so that you have the key facts and figures to hand on the day of the interview. You will also discover that you have gained huge insights into what makes the company tick and who the players are. This will be invaluable in helping you to sell your skills. It may even make you realise that this is not a company that you will be happy working in.
The main tool for information gathering will be your internet connection. Look at the company website and search for information on the search engines. Here are a list of other places that will give you details about the company:
1. http://www.hoovers.com will give you information from Hoovers
2. http://www.dnb.com will give you informaiton from Dun and Bradsheet
3. http://www.vaultreports.com/companies/searchcompanies.jsp will give you more great data
4. http://www.company.monster.com/ can also give some great insights
Spend a bit of time collating market data. Work out what has happened to that industry in the past and what is likely to happen over the next few years.
Think about how you can progress this company through its ups and downs over the next few years.
Go through the job description and figure out what the company is worried about. The companies worries will be reflected in the interview panel's questions. How are you going to sell your skills in each of these categories?
I know it can be a little uncomfortable, but you have to accept that the interview is a game and the game is selling. You are the sales person and you are the product.
You have to figure out how you are going to let the interview board understand how you are the top dog for this job. Invest the time needed to go through your past efforts and achievements. Identify how you managed various testing tasks. Use these anecdotes to sell your skills to match the needs of the employer.
By spending this time developing your content, you will be far better prepared to deliver that content well and nail that job interview.
Best of luck!
About the Author
For more FREE advice from this NHS consultant on how to prepare well for your medical interview go to his website at medical interviews
Rating: Not yet rated
Login to vote
