You receive a call from a recruiter and after a few basic questions and a conversation about the position you have applied for the recruiter tells you, “we would like to schedule an interview for you”. There is an equal level of excitement and nervousness, so now what? There are several factors to consider: how will the interview be conducted, what type of interview will this be, what should I wear, what questions will I be asked and what questions should I ask? Let us take a closer look at each of these.

Preparation

Preparing for the interview is one of the most important steps in owning the interview and there is a lot to consider. First, you should consider the location of the interview. Will it be on-site or at an off-site location? Will it be at a casual “lunch” type of setting or will it be a Zoom interview? In the current “COVID- world” we live in, Zoom interviews are becoming the norm. Zoom interviews are great because they are like an open book test. You can have notes around you, and you are generally in the comfort of your own home.

Consider your Zoom background and test your technology. There are differing schools of thought on your background, but I recommend that you use no filters or custom backgrounds and make sure that what is behind you is basic. For example, you may have some family photos on the wall, a painting, or nothing on the wall at all. Remember, this is the first impression the hiring manager will have of you, and you want that impression to be of you, not what is behind you. If the interview is on-site, then make sure you know our route, and make sure you get to the interview so that you are no more than 15 minutes prior to and NEVER late for the interview.

Is the interview one-on-one or a panel interview? Who will be in the interview? This is important, as you want to do as much research as you can on the people who are interviewing you. LinkedIn is a great tool to do this.

Do Your Homework

Research is the key to increasing your level of confidence and easing your stress levels. You should review the company website. Look for pertinent information about the history of the company and what they do. Much of this information can be found in the “about” section of the company website. One important note, I recommend you familiarize yourself with the company mission and vision. This will make it easy for you to incorporate the language of the company mission with your own skills, abilities, and values. It will also help you to determine if this is a company you really want to work for.

Anticipate the Questions

Generally, there are three types of questions: behavior-based questions, situation-based questions, and knowledge-based questions. Take stock of your skills and abilities and be prepared to highlight these skills in any past or theoretical situation they could put you in. Your answer should always follow the Situation-Task-Action-Result or STAR. Your emphasis should be on the action you took, highlighting your skills, and the result, or how successful were you.

Now that you have prepared, it’s time for the interview.

READ PART 2

Advice provided by Jim King, U.S. Navy (retired), Chief Programs Officer, 256.883.7035, jking@ssv.org

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