I
recently had someone ask me: “How should I prepare for a job interview?”
My
answer was as follows:
Prior
to the interview I would suggest you do two kinds of research JOB RESEARCH and
SELF RESEARCH, along with INTERVIEW PREPARATION and develop EMPLOYER QUESTIONS.
JOB RESEARCH
Research the employer and know about the employer’s mandate,
mission, vision, role, population served, finances, how it relates to its
community partners, etc. You can do this using the website(s), annual
report, meeting with staff and community partners, reviewing brochures, etc. Research the role of the job you are applying for, using the job ad and documents mentioned above.
SELF RESEARCH
I would encourage you to reflect on your skills, especially
transferable skills and what you can bring to the job you are being interviewed
for.
INTERVIEW PREPARATION
I would also encourage you to practice a job interview as if it
were a real job interview…things to consider include, but are not limited to:
be early, your dress, your demeanour, eye contact, non-verbal communication,
bringing two copies of your resume, bringing a copy of your
references.
EMPLOYER QUESTIONS
And finally I would encourage you to develop a few questions to
ask the employer. If you do these things (job research,interview preparation, self reserach and develop employer questions), prior to the interview, I believe you will be better prepared. This work will take at least 2 hours, possibly three.
Fortune favours the prepared mind. Louis Pasteur
