You've applied and submitted your resume. You've waited an agonizing couple of weeks... or months. Maybe you've met with recruiters, maybe you've participated in a phone interview. Finally, you get the opportunity to interview with representatives of THE company you would LOVE to work for, face to face.
It's time to prepare. And while it seems simple enough to strut into the interview with confidence and deliver a knock-out performance, answering questions with as much ease as Rachel Ray whipping up a 30-minute meal on live television, there are many things that can shake you up on the big day - even before you leave the house.
Do your research.
It's nice to assume that most job applicants thoroughly research the company prior to even applying to an open position, but this is not the case. It's crucial to research the company as much as possible prior to an in-person interview. Be familiar with the company's philosophy and/or mission, and learn about services and staff as much as possible. Utilize the company website, LinkedIn and Facebook pages, and other resources.
Find the location.
And I'm not talking a simple MapQuest search. Take some time to drive to the physical location of the company with which you are meeting the evening prior to the interview. Mapquest, drive, park in the lot, and find the entrance. This will help calm the "Where am I going?" worry, and will allow you to estimate accurate travel time. You want to arrive to the interview on schedule; even though you may have a rough idea of where you're going, it's still a great idea to scope out the trip beforehand.
Prep interview attire.
Dressing in an ensemble you haven't worn in quite some time 30 minutes before heading out the door to an interview is quite the risk; avoid unnecessary clothing mishaps by preparing a few days in advance of your appointment.Getting your best suit dry-cleaned an hour before the interview isn't the best of ideas. Prep the outfit you'll be interviewing in with any necessary laundering, and don't forget to give it a trial run by trying it on - some items may need taken in, steamed, etc.
In Part II, I'll touch on a list of things you should be ready for on the day of the actual interview, including accidental deodorant stains, hungry pets, and other things that can prevent you from getting out of the door on time!
Stephanie Snyder
None of this matters. I've been searching, preparing, doing my homework, due-diligence, writing cover letter after cover letter, phone call after email, interview after interview (some up to 3 hours at length). In the end, it's the business owner and their needs. It's not that I'm not qualified, because it's obvious I am, it's that their are SOOOO many qualified candidates that EVERYONE sticks out, EVERYONE is trying to do the same thing. In the end, it's about the business owner and many times, they decided to "hold off" on their decision, fill the space internally, or just all out, don't care about you and forget the whole thing ever happened. Agree to disagree.