Now that the job market is opening up but we still are dealing with COVID-19, you may be getting phone and Zoom interviews. Here are some tips and strategies to prepare.
1) Do your research – Learn something about the company before you walk into an interview. Know their mission, values, challenges. Look at the company website, read some press releases and their latest annual report.
2) Prepare yourself – Practice telling two or three stories about your greatest accomplishments that are relevant to the job you are interviewing for. Make sure to include metrics – numbers, dollars, percentages to make the story memorable. What challenge did you overcome? What action did you take? Who did you work with? What was the result?
3) Be ready for difficult interview questions, such as, why did you leave your last job? or, why were you fired? or, tell me about a time when you did not get along with your boss, or tell me about a mistake you made. Remember, no one is perfect. What is important is to say what you learned from your mistakes and then move the conversation forward by asking a question of the interviewer.
4) Think of questions you want to ask such as, What are the specific job responsibilities that were not outlined in the job description? Who will you be working with? What are the priorities for the next 30, 60, 90 days? How will your performance be measured?5) Look up the interviewer on LinkedIn so you know something about the person in front of you…what is their background? their work experience? What companies did they work for? Where did they go to school?
6) Be professional – Dress appropriately even for a Zoom or telephone interview. including hair style, make up, clothing. Put a light in front of you, not behind you, otherwise your face will be in the dark. Sit in a straight chair, not a swivel chair with wheels. Stay positive. Smile and look the camera in the eye!
Remember: The interview is about what you can do for the company. And your objective is to get to the next interview.
(c) 2020 Amy Geffen All rights reserved
