Interview Preparation

Interview Preparation Before going to the interview it is wise to have a basic understanding about the company goals and culture. Simple questions like these can be researched in advance: What does the company produce? What kind of technology is employed? How big is the company (small, medium, or large)? Where is the company located (one or many locations)? Is it a publicly traded company? What is the financial situation (stock price if publicly traded)? Which partners and collaborators exist? What do the most recent press releases describe? Most of this information can usually be retrieved from the company website. If the area where the company is located has a central industry information center, it may be worthwhile to obtain information locally as well. Practice Communication Often the hardest part of the conversation is the first five minutes. Much stress can be alleviated by practicing what to say when meeting with people for the first time. Thanking them for the invitation is a very good way to start an interview. An introduction using a few sentences relevant to the job is a good way to continue. Also taking the necessary time to let the interviewer(s) introduce themselves is good practice. This attitude shows politeness, patience and interest in people. There are certain questions that can be anticipated and an applicant can practice answers to these in advance. Some of the most common questions can be found on the Internet and typically relate to the following topics: Experience and education (capability) Five-year goals (assessment of ambition) Work style (priority of components) Worst experience (coping skills) Strength and weaknesses (assessment of self-evaluation) Flexibility (coping skills) Why this job seems interesting (assessing reasons for application). One of the most common mistakes during an interview is to be negative. When applicants are asked to describe their worst experience (a common request) they can choose something relevant to the new job and focus on how challenging the experience was and how well it was handled. Likewise, when describing weaknesses, a weakness that may also be considered a strength, can be chosen. Eat Well Taking the time to nurture the body will help with concentration and mental balance. It is a good idea to eat well (healthy food) the day and morning before the interview. Exercise Physical activity is good for both the mind and the body. It is optimal to exercise the day before the interview. Another kind of exercise that may give a competitive advantage is mental imagery, especially if nervousness is a prevalent problem in interview situations. A person can imagine him or herself successfully navigating a job interview. The technique involves focusing on seeing the event as a movie and playing it several times so the scenario is easy to remember. Rest A greatly underappreciated part of interview preparation is sufficient rest. An applicant should avoid being physically or mentally exhausted to display the best performance. If traveling is involved to get to an interview, it is wise to arrive early so there is time to adjust and rest. Dress Well Obviously good hygiene and a professional look are important. There is also usually a corporate dress code. Information about the dress code can be requested from the company’s HR Department or these simple conservative rules can be followed: Women: No open-toed shoes Heels maximum 1.5 inches (3 cm) No tight or revealing clothing or mini skirts As little make-up as possible No or very little perfume No excessive jewelry Classic attire (jacket and pants, jacket and skirt) Men: Classic attire (white shirt, tie, suit, classic shoes)