Prepare for Interviews

Now that you have been selected for an interview, here are some suggestions for making your interview a success!

1. Research the company or organization
Do your homework. Research as much as you can about the company. And to review some basic rules before beginning your search click here

 Here are some specific items to review:

• the overall size of the firm, its locations, and its history
• the industry, market, and competitors
• recent news about the company, awards it has won, and its community involvement
• new products or services it is offering 
• its reputation among employees and in the community

2. Learn about the interviewer
If you can, find our interviewers' full names and titles BEFORE the interview.. And don’t be afraid to ask if your interview will be one-on-one or in front of a group.

To help you keep track of important information about the interview, open and print this helpful Pre-Interview Worksheet. Include information about the company,  interviewer contact information, location of the interview, and the date and time the interview is to take place:

• Pre-Interview Worksheet (PDF)
• Pre-Interview Worksheet (HTML)
• Pre-Interview Worksheet (Word)

To prepare for different types of interviews, learn more about panel interviews, phone interviews, information interviews and group interviews.

3. Prepare answers to open-ended questions
The interviewer will ask open-ended questions to allow you to describe yourself in a unique way. Be prepared to start with “Tell me about yourself.” Here are some of the most common tough questions. For each question, make sure to have complete yet short answers prepared.

• Tell me about yourself. 
• List your three greatest strengths and weaknesses. 
• Tell me about an accomplishment you are proud of. 
• How would your professors (friends, coworkers) describe you?
• Why do you want this job?
• In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our organization?
• Tell me about your work habits.
• Describe your ideal job.
• Define success. Define failure.
• What do you know about our company’s products or services?

You should also be ready to describe situations such as, “Tell me about an instance when you had a conflict with your supervisor. How did you handle it?” The employer will use this rule: past performance predicts future behavior.

4. Alert your references.
Tell your references that you’ve been selected for an interview to alert them that they may be contacted by the interviewer.  Be sure to give all of your references your resume so they can refresh themselves about your qualifications.  Ask your references if they know someone at the company where you are being interviewed.  Try to contact that person before the interview to find out as much as you can about what it’s like to work there.

5. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!
Contact a Local Resource Room near you and find out if they perform mock interviews or ask friends or family members to ask you potential interview questions.

6. Dress for Success
Make a good first impression. Dress neatly and conservatively. Remember you are being judged on your overall appearance.  If you are not sure what to wear, check out www.best-job-interview.com for recommendations on dressing appropriately for a job interview.

Remember,  don’t chew gum or smoke.  Take a notebook that has extra copies of your resume, recent news clippings about the company, and a list of written questions that you want to ask.

7. Be prepared to negotiate salary and benefits
Do your homework and research the industry salary range for the position you are applying for and know what you can reasonably accept.  Take into consideration your geographical location, experience, education, and present monthly expenses.  Below is a helpful worksheet of the do's and don'ts for negotiating salary and benefits including a "Monthly Expense Worksheet" to better assist you in making sound decisions in your job search.

Open and print this helpful Negotiation Practices and Monthly Expense Worksheet:

• Negotiation Practices and Monthly Expense Worksheet (PDF)
• Negotiation Practices and Monthly Expense Worksheet (HTML)
• Negotiation Practices and Monthly Expense Worksheet (Word) 

Here are more tips on what to do during and after the interview. If you need additional help or additional resources preparing for the interview, feel free to contact the trained staff at an Illinois workNet Center near you.