Once you get the interview with the hiring manager, your goal is to do what you need to do to prepare for the interview and land the position.
When it comes to the interview, you’re probably feeling nervous and excited. It’s understandable that you’ll have all these emotions going on inside of you. But the main thing is, you really want the opportunity to work for this organization.
Study Up for Your Interview
You definitely want to research the company, look at their mission, core values, and vision in order to be prepared for your interview.
There’s a misconception that the more experienced the candidate is, the more confident she will be. Some job-seekers think that since they know the job well and have the skills, they don’t really have to prepare for the interview because ‘they got this.’ However, that’s not always the case. Managers are looking for someone who’s very passionate about the job. They’re looking for someone who will take the initiative to learn and go the extra mile if needed. That’s what needs to shine through during the interview.
Experienced candidates need to beware of being too confident. A know-it-all attitude doesn’t usually mix well with company culture. Managers don’t like someone who acts like they know everything because they want to bring someone into the organization who can not only do the job but also learn and grow within their role and potentially move up in the company. They don’t want to hire someone who’s going to be bored in a role that’s too easy for them because that could result in a quick turnover. Hiring managers are going to be looking for somebody who is willing to get in there, know how to do the job, but also be able to learn and potentially take on more duties.
Here are a few steps you can take to get to know the position and the company you’re applying to:
- Check out their website
You can find so much information and become very well-informed by visiting and looking closely at a company’s website. Research the mission statement, vision statement, and core values. Also, make sure to learn about the leaders. Where have they been? What is their experience? What is their background?
If you know the company’s goals, you can see how your work will help them achieve what’s important to them. What is the goal of the company for the next three to five years? What do their corporate values look like? What are they doing in the community? Are they giving back? Does their vision align with your goals and your vision, with what you see for yourself in the future? Looking for answers to these questions is important because it will both enable you to see how the company fits in with your goals and determine what value you could provide for them.
- Create a qualification list
Look over the job description and make sure you have a really good understanding of what the requirements are for this position. To see how you match up and where your experience lies, create a chart for yourself. On one side, list all the job qualifications on the job description. On the other side, list how your experience matches up with that. This will also help you remember stories and experiences you can share in an interview to show how ready you are to go in and take on these responsibilities.
- Connect with the hiring manager
We’ve talked about creating a quality LinkedIn profile and making connections that help you get the job you desire. Another way to use LinkedIn to your benefit is to connect with the hiring manager for the job you want.
This is going to help you build rapport more easily when you go in and actually meet with the manager. For instance, you could study their profile and see what you have in common. You may be part of the same organization, association, sorority, or fraternity. If you went to the same school, are from the same hometown, or whatever else you find — that little piece of information can help you establish a commonality. You might even find a recommendation on their page from someone you know.
If you can find a commonality between you and the hiring manager, you can utilize that to establish rapport and stand out during your interview. Don’t cross the line and look creepy though! Just research their LinkedIn profile to prepare for your interview. It’s good for them to know you’ve done your research and have something in common with them.
By taking these steps, you’ll be prepared to shine during your next interview. You may be surprised to find out what a big difference it makes!
your decision-making process.