The Boy Scout Motto: Be prepared
One of the most famous mottos in this country comes from the Boy Scouts: Be Prepared. The Boy Scouts knew the value of preparation whether it be preparing for a camping trip or planning for the Pinewood Derby. Any respectable Pinewood Derby competitor would go online to make sure he knew the weight rules, the height requirements and would weigh and measure the car well ahead of time. You always walked into the race with extra coins to weigh the car down to get the fastest speed.
This same theory applies to job interviews. It always amazes me how few people adequately prepare for a job interview. My husband recently interviewed a young professional for a marketing position. He asked the candidate an open end question: “what do you think of our funds?”. The response was “I don’t know anything about them.” Not a good sign for that candidate. As I recall, the candidate was given the 30 minute courtesy interview and never seen again.
Here are some things to keep in mind when you are preparing for a job interview.
First, know yourself–who you are, why you want this job and be prepared to answer the question “Tell me about yourself”. This should be a 2 to 3 minute narrative that summarizes your background and what brought you to the interview.
Second, know the skills required for the job and make sure you can articulate how your background and experiences make you the best candidate for the job. For example, if you are interviewing for a research position that requires you to obtain information and determine what’s pertinent, be prepared with a story about when you have had to do that.
Know the company before the interview. Check out the company’s website for basic facts like size, locations and products. Be sure to google the company to see if there has been any recent press about them.
Finally, be prepared with a closing statement that gives you the opportunity to sell yourself one more time. Something like: “I am very interested in this opportunity and believe that my summer internships in the accounting department have given me the skills to transition into this position with ease.”
Just like with the Pinewood Derby, the more research you do before the interview, the faster the job process will be.
Article by, Susan Kennedy, career counselor for college graduates and young professionals
