Do Your Homework Prior to an Interview

Once you have scheduled an interview, it is important to gather as much information as possible to ensure that you know the company, understand the position you are interviewing for, and the details on your resume.

Homework on the Company:

Find out as much about the company as possible – its history, its current situation, and its future. Review the website, read articles about the organization, and analyze quarterly/annual reports. Know the ins and outs of the company prior to the interview.

Homework on the Position:

Have a thorough understanding of the position, its key duties, primary responsibilities, and what is expected.

Homework on Yourself:

Review your career history thoroughly. Review dates, positions, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Be prepared to cite specific examples of accomplishments and how your experience can help the company solve some of its problems.

How to End the Interview

An interview is a sales presentation and you are selling yourself. When you feel things are winding down and you DO have an interest in the role, make sure to share this interest with the organization. You want to do three things:

  1. Thank them for their time
  2. Communicate interest and demonstrate why you want the job
  3. Ask “What are the next steps?”

This method will showcase your interest in the position and allow you the opportunity to answer additional questions that will set you apart from other potential candidates.

5 Keys to Resume Success

Your resume is usually the first item an organization sees about you. Taking extra time and preparing your resume is key with getting an interview. Here are five tips to help you make a strong resume that will stand out from the competition:

  1. Career Summary Statement
    Set the tone for your resume with a brief, powerful statement of your professional brand, value, and credentials.
  2. Who Did You Work For
    Include a brief statement that describes the scope, size, revenue, products, employees, and geographic presence of the company.
  3. What Did You Do
    In paragraph form, provide a 13-week summary of your job – this should be 2-3 sentences/phrases long.
  4. What Did You Do to Make a Difference
    It’s important to showcase how you provided value to an organization that separates you from other potential candidates.
  5. Everything Else
    Add a bit more detail to differentiate yourself from the competition – education, certificates, groups, associations, etc.

These key tips will help your resume get seen and lead to more interviews.

Check out more job search tips and interview resources on our blog.

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