Preparing for the interview

Have you ever wondered why another candidate was chosen for a job you thought you would get?

It’s natural to wonder. Everyone does. And we all try to figure what went wrong during an interview. What is difficult about asking this question is that sometimes there is no clear, definitive answer. Yet, you still have to wonder especially when you thought it had been a great interview. Of course you can probably rule out it wasn’t your resume, because after all, your prospective employer read your resume first and then granted you the interview. It couldn’t have been the way you dressed because you read that book on business attire do’s and don’ts and you followed it to the letter. Your body language was receptive and you were calm and at ease throughout the interview…so what could it have been?

 Well, there are actually many aspects to an interview that determine how an employer chooses a particular candidate. Having the right skills and knowledge for the job and looking professional in your interview attire are all great, but if you are not well suited for the company this could very well be the reason you weren't hired. There is no ‘perfect match’ when it comes to hiring, but if you learn how to prepare for an interview you will stop focusing on what happened if you don’t get chosen for the job.

There are simple ways you can prepare for the interview that will better your chances for getting hired for the position you are seeking. First and foremost, you need to become educated about who your employer is. This can be done by simply visiting the company’s website and reading the ‘about us’ section. In doing so, you will gain a greater insight into the company you want to work for. If per chance a website is unavailable, do a search on the company’s name. Anything you come up with is more information than you started with. Next you’ll want to make sure you fully understand the job description and practice all your responses as to why you are the most qualified candidate for the position. Certainly you won’t always be a ‘perfect fit’ for the position, but you can provide evidence on why you believe you would be a good fit for the position. Next you want to practice, practice and practice some more. This means practicing everything from your body language and voice tone, to the answers you will give during the interview. Having an idea of the questions that will be asked will help you effectively communicate your answers. Amongst other customary questions, you should always be prepared to answer why you think you would be an asset to the company, what your strengths and weakness are, as well as why you are interested in the job you are applying for.

It will serve you well to remember, preparing for any interview goes a long way in impressing a prospective employee and significantly improves your chances of being hired.
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