Preparing for the Job Interview
Tips to present and share your story well
Today’s job market isn’t what it used to be.
In order to stand out from the noise amongst fellow job seekers, you need to show up prepared for job interviews and the application process.
Employers are busier than ever and weeding out applicants and candidates fast.
They’re looking for savvy job seekers who are skilled, prepped, and can speak to their individual company about the specific position you’re applying for.
This blog will help you in preparing for the job interview as I provide you with some key strategies around sharing your stories well, and presenting yourself more effectively.
👉🏻 | And, if you’re still struggling to get the interview in the first place, I recommend you check out my recent blog, “Why Am I Not Getting Job Interviews?” for additional tips and guidance.
Ask Questions Before the Interview
Reach out prior to the interview and ask how best they’d like you to prepare for the interview. Some companies will send you questions they intend to ask you, or any special requirements they have, but if they don’t, be sure to ask! You may also use this opportunity to connect with the interviewer on LinkedIn, be sure you’re following the company on LinkedIn (yes, you can unfollow later if you need to), and provide the interviewer with a nicer version of your resume, as the one they have on file is likely formatted without all the frills and fancy fonts.
Match Yourself to the Specific Job and Individual Company
If I could tell job seekers just one thing to focus on in preparing for job interviews, it would be to consider each and every interview unique. You’re presenting yourself as a candidate to this hiring manager and this company. You need to set aside the other places you’re interested in, applying to, and have interviews with for a moment and concentrate on this one.
Tailor your approach to each and every specific company you get a meeting with.
You want to show them that you’re an alignment for the position they seek both in your skills and expertise as well as who you are. Before you even start thinking about the questions you’ll ask, go through the job description and resume at the same time, and make a side by side list. On one side, you’ll put the requirements as they have them on the job posting. And on the other side, you’ll list the skills you possess that meet those requirements.
On the worksheet, I encourage you to prepare with specific prompts and questions in the interview you’ll be likely to encounter.
Once you’ve given time and attention to aligning yourself to the company, it’s time to start preparing your stories!
Stories? In an Interview?
Yes! By all means, I want to encourage you to think of your experiences as stories. Stories are a powerful way to present yourself no matter if you’re sharing your skills, strengths, weaknesses, or challenges you’ve overcome.
The good news is that you don’t need to think of new stories for each and every position you apply for, you need to think of 3-5 of the right stories that you can adapt to many different situations and examples.
Some examples of the stories you’ll want to prepare yourself with:
A storytelling version of who you are. Think of this as your mini elevator pitch, but instead of just saying how great and awesome you are, you want to tell your story in a way that directly relates to how it will help them. What experience brought you here and have made you excited for this role?
A story of how you overcame an obstacle. When sharing your weaknesses or obstacles and challenges you faced, be sure to spin it back to the positive with a lesson you’ve learned, how you grew, what you did next time you encountered the same thing, or how it helped build your skillset in some way.
A success story. Sharing a story around something you succeeded in or did well is an invitation for you to show them the benefit and value you’ll bring to their company. Apply this story directly to one of the pieces of the job requirements or description.
With just these three stories, you’ll be ready to interview for any job and apply it to their company’s culture and specific position requirements.
Practice Makes…Great!
I’m not going to say “perfect” because we all know by now there’s no such thing as perfection. But practice will most definitely make you a lot more confident, successful, and present effectively.
You need to practice telling your stories, adapting them to the company you’re applying for, and answering the basic interview questions.
You can record yourself on video, on the voice app on your phone, or have someone else ask you the questions and provide you with feedback. The reason for this is so you can see/hear yourself in action learn from what you’re doing and continuously improve your storytelling and communication skills.
You can also practice in the mirror to look at hand gestures, facial expression, and any distracting habits you might have when answering.
Preparing for a job interview strategically and properly comes down to time, presence, and attention.
Take time to thoroughly prepare yourself before the conversation, and you’ll know you went into each and every interview giving it your best!
Need More Guidance?
This is a complicated and overwhelming process, and I’m here to help you navigate the job seeking journey! If you want help preparing for the job interview or are stuck somewhere else altogether in your job search, reach out and let’s see if I’m the right fit for you!
