{"id":16992,"date":"2022-06-01T10:00:33","date_gmt":"2022-06-01T10:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.businessedge.org\/so-you-got-the-job-interview-heres-how-to-prepare\/"},"modified":"2022-06-01T10:00:33","modified_gmt":"2022-06-01T10:00:33","slug":"so-you-got-the-job-interview-heres-how-to-prepare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.businessedge.org\/so-you-got-the-job-interview-heres-how-to-prepare\/","title":{"rendered":"So, You Got the Job Interview? Here\u2019s How to Prepare"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you\u2019re looking for your first big job out of college or are considering a <\/span>career change<\/span><\/a>, it\u2019s important to be prepared for what can sometimes be a grueling hiring process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The first step is attracting the attention of your ideal employers, which can be accomplished with a great r\u00e9sum\u00e9, some solid <\/span>networking<\/span><\/a>, and a little persistence. (Remember, not every company you apply to will call you in for an interview, so you\u2019ll want to bring your A-game for those that do.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve done the legwork and secured an interview, you\u2019ll want to be as prepared as possible to make a great impression. You\u2019ll have at least one (usually multiple) interviews with each company interested in you.<\/span><\/p>\n

The best way to confidently sell a potential employer on your value is with thorough preparation. The more prepared you are the more confident you\u2019ll be. This can also help alleviate some of the anxiety that can come with the interview process.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are six essential steps to preparing for your interview:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Get familiar with the job description and match it to your qualifications<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before you go into an interview, you need to know the ins and outs of what would be required of you in that job. Don\u2019t wait until the last minute to do a quick re-read of the job description \u2014 spend a few days with it and let what it says sink in. (If there are things that don\u2019t make sense or you have additional questions about the role, those are great things to jot down and ask your interviewers.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As you read the job description, go line-by-line and write down your qualifications for each of the job responsibilities. Match up your expertise to what the role requires, so that when you\u2019re asked about your experience, you can hit those points and wow the interviewer.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Do your homework and (really) learn about the company<\/span><\/h2>\n

The candidate who gets the job you\u2019re interviewing for will have done more than just read the company\u2019s \u201cabout us\u201d page. Take the time to truly understand what they do and how they\u2019ve made an impact in their space.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Use your internet sleuthing skills to learn about the company\u2019s market, its competitors, and any big recent news. You can also dig into LinkedIn to see what kinds of things the company and its employees post about, to get a feel for the culture. You can even see if you\u2019re connected to anyone who has worked on the team you\u2019re applying to and ask them for some tips as you prepare.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Practice your answers to the questions you may be asked<\/span><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s no way to know exactly what you\u2019ll be asked in an interview, but there are some standard questions you can prepare for ahead of time. Practicing how you\u2019ll respond will help you sound more confident and reduce the number of \u201cums\u201d and \u201clet me thinks\u201d you\u2019ll need to use.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a few questions to be prepared for:<\/span><\/p>\n