3. Meaning of Interview:
Interview is an important selection
technique where there is two-way
exchange of information either on
one-to-one basis or by an interview
panel.
4. • Interview is a two-way conversation.
• It is a personal form of communication between two people.
• It is a beneficial process for both the interviewer and the
interviewee.
• The interviewer tells the applicant about the job preview and
helps the interviewee make his mind about whether or not he
wants to take that job.
• Though conducting interviews is not based on fixed rules,
certain guidelines for the interviewer and interviewee can
make interview an effective process.
20. Preparing for an interview takes a lot more
than Googling a list of common interview
questions. You have to make a great first
impression appearance-wise (no wrinkly
suits here!), have a great knowledge of your
target company and its product, and, of
course, know exactly how to convey that
you're the perfect fit for the job.
21. Numbers 1-7
Know Your Audience
1. Spend a few hours learning everything you can about the company—from as many sources as you
can. Talk to friends and contacts, read current news releases, and, yes, spend some time on
Google. Often, candidates just look at the information a company is pushing out via the website
and social media, but fail to look more in depth at what others are saying. By doing so, you’ll get
the larger picture about the company (along with any negative press).
2. Get a sense of “who” the company is and how to embody a similar personality during your
interview. Start by reading the company’s blog and Facebook page—the tone of the company’s
content on these sites will speak volumes. Or, try reading individual employees’ blogs to figure out
what type of people work (and excel) there.
3. Twitter can also be an excellent resource because you can see what the company and its
employees are talking about. Are they sarcastically bantering with each other? Feel free to throw a
few jokes in as you’re meeting with people. Are they tweeting up a storm about an event or product
launch? Use it as a conversation starter.
4. No matter what role you’re interviewing for—engineering, sales, marketing—you should always
use the product before your first interview (and ideally, a few times). If hired, your goal will be to
create value for the people who use that product, and being a user yourself is the first step.
22. 5. Make sure you reach out through your network to find current and previous
employees you can talk to, too—they’re often your best source of intel on what
it’s really like to work at a company.
6. Before your interview, get a list of the people you’re meeting with from the
company. Then learn more about them—including what type of behavior might
intrigue them or turn them off. Finally, prep some questions that are specific to
each interviewer: Ask for details about her focus at the firm, discuss current
events on his specialty, or bring up a common interest you know he or she has
outside the office.
7. Different companies use different types of interviews, so ask what you'll be
faced with. For example, some companies will ask case questions or brain
teasers while others will give a standard set of typical interview and leadership
questions. Asking the recruiter or HR contact about the interview format ahead
of time is totally fair game. And once you know, investing time to become
familiar with this style can make a huge difference.
23. Numbers 8-16
Anticipate the Interview Questions
8. Even if you’re a well-oiled interviewing machine, it’s essential to spend time thinking carefully about
what skills, accomplishments, and interview answers will resonate with your interviewers most. Your
management abilities? Your creativity? The examples you share will probably be slightly different
everywhere you interview.
9. Have an answer to “Tell me about yourself” ready to go. Interviewers always ask it, and you want to
be sure to nail this first part of the interview.
10.Don’t be thrown off by the classic “What’s your biggest weakness?” One foolproof method: Think of
something that you struggle with but that you’re working to improve. For example, maybe you’ve
never been strong at public speaking, but over the past few years, you’ve taken on leadership roles
and volunteered to run meetings to help you be more comfortable when addressing a crowd.
11.You can easily find lists of common interview questions—but don’t prepare by writing out your entire
answer; instead, jot down a few notes or bullet points and keep them on hand for the interview itself.
You’ll ensure you cover the bases—without reading from a script.
12.Don’t forget about the numbers! Finding some numbers, percentages, increases, or quotas you can
use when talking about your responsibilities and accomplishments really sweetens the deal and
helps you tell a hiring manager why you’re so awesome. (Here's how to include them, even if you
don't work with numbers.)
24. 13.It’s likely you’ll get asked why you’re interested in this particular role and company. (And if you
can’t answer this question, you shouldn’t be in the interview!) So to make sure you can, consider
why you’re interested in the function and identify a couple of key factors that make it a great fit for
you and how it aligns with what motivates you (e.g., “I love customer support because I love the
constant human interaction and the satisfaction that comes from helping someone solve a
problem”).
14.Don’t just think about how you’ll answer certain questions; practice looking in the mirror and
answering them out loud. This prep work will help you clarify your thoughts and make you much
more comfortable during the interview.
15.Do as many mock interviews as you possibly can with a friend. You’ll be much better at answering,
“What would you bring to the position?” the 100th time you do it than the first, right?
16.Prepare a few smart questions for when it’s your turn to ask. Make sure they’re thoughtful ones
that show you’ve been paying attention and have done your homework when it comes to
researching the company and the specific job you’re after.
25. Numbers 17-24
Pack (and Dress) Accordingly
17.Plan the perfect interview outfit. For companies that have a business or business-
casual dress code keep your look basic and conservative for the first interview. Not
sure what to wear? If you have a contact or friend who works at the company you're
interviewing with, see if he or she can give you a heads up as to what people wear. If
you don’t have that luxury, scope out photos on their social media (or their Muse
profile!), or hang out at a coffee shop across the street a day or two before and try to
get a glimpse at what people are wearing.
18.Make sure you get your outfit cleaned, pressed, and tailored (a modern fit is best).
People often have their “interviewing suit” that’s been sitting in their closet for the
past couple of years, and they dust it off for the occasion—you don’t want to be that
person.
19.Don’t forget about the little things: Shine your shoes, check for loose hems, and
make sure your fingernails look manicured. This is the stuff that you don’t always
think people notice, but they do!
20.Do a little pampering, because looking your best helps you feel your best. If that
means you need a facial, haircut, razor shave, or even a new interview outfit, then by
all means do it! Feeling good about yourself will boost your confidence—and we
probably don’t have to tell you that confidence is key to landing your dream job.
26. 21.Print out five copies of your resume. You never know who you’ll be meeting
with, and you want to have your resume ready to go in case you're asked for it.
22.Prepare a reference list, whether you think you’ll be asked for it or not. For each
reference, include a name, title, organization, division or department, telephone
number, and email address, as well as a sentence briefly explaining the
relationship (e.g., “Carlton was my team leader for two years, during which we
collaborated on four major product launches”).
23.Prep your your purse, backpack, or briefcase. Whatever bag you carry should be
large enough to hold your everyday essentials, plus your interview musts, such as
extra resumes and a notepad, as well as a special emergency kit stocked with
what you might need in an unexpected situation (think: Band-Aids, a stain stick,
an umbrella, and breath mints). Here’s a general checklist of what to bring to an
interview so you’re super prepared.
24.Clean out that bag! If you have to dig past candy wrappers, phone chargers, and
old receipts to get that resume, you’re going to look a little unorganized.
Everything you need should be neatly organized and readily accessible. The less
you have to rifle through your bag, the better.
27. Numbers 25-30
Get Your Head in the Right Place
25.Spend the most time before the interview not rehearsing questions, but reflecting on your career
chronology to date. When you know your story inside and out, it’s much easier to apply examples to
just about any interview question.
26.Getting ready for a technical interview? Start preparing as early as possible. Working through a prep
book or sample questions will not only give you good practice, but it’ll also put you in the right
problem-solving mindset.
27.Come up with a go-to phrase that’ll help you avoid dead air if you need time to stall and gather your
thoughts. Two strategies that work well are repeating the question thoughtfully before answering or
saying (slowly), “Now, that is a great question. I think I would have to say…"
28.Brush up on what certain body language conveys. Be aware of what you’re communicating through
your posture and stance—and make sure it’s good. (For example, sitting with your arms and legs
crossed sends a message that you are closed-off or feel defensive.) Think your movements through
ahead of time so you are not distracted (or distracting) during the interview.
29.Use an interview cheat sheet to compile all the details you need to remember, jot down notes about
what you want to say and ask, and check off all the essentials of what to bring to the interview. Print
one out for every interview, read it over the morning of, and you’ll be good to go! (We made one for
you right here!)
30.Oh, and get some sleep. This sounds like something your mom would tell you, but there are few
things that will throw you off your game like sleep deprivation.
