Interview Checklist

Win over the interviewer with preparation, not desperation.

Steps to take before the interview:

• Research the organization/industry.
  Find out: Major Competitors; Services/Products; Growth History and Anticipated Growth; Major Customers/ Clients; Challenges it Faces; Plans for the Future; Parent Company; Subsidiaries; Profits.
  *Use the Internet, Chamber of Commerce, business journals, newspaper articles, and any other sources of information.

• Identify skills needed to do the job.
  Try to get the job description and list the skills it mentions. If you cannot get the job description, find out as much information as you can and anticipate the skills needed.

• Identify your skills, accomplishments, training, experience and activities.
  Write an explanation of how your skills match those of the position.

• Practice interviewing.
  Have someone ask you typical interview questions. In addition, think of scenarios from previous positions when you worked on a team, led a team, had to learn something difficult, etc. Many large company interviewers ask situation questions to learn about your previous performance.

• Make sure you have the correct date, time, and place of the interview.
  Do you know whom to ask for when you get to the interview location? If not, find out.

• Make a trial run.
  Drive by the location a day or so before the interview at the same time of day as the interview to gauge traffic and locate parking. Make sure you arrive with about 10 minutes to spare.

• Dress for success.
  Pick out your outfit well before the interview and make sure it’s clean, pressed, and well fitted. Consider investing in an interviewing outfit. Men, wear a suit, unless it’s a casual working environment. If so, wear khakis and a button down shirt. Women, wear a conservative suit with a nice blouse. The general rule is, dress one step above the normal attire for that office.

• Contact your references.
  Tell them you are interviewing and ask permission to use them as a reference. Give them a copy of your resume and tell them what type of jobs you are applying for, and follow up with them after the interview.