Preparation for an interview is about more than just feeling ready to face a ‘daunting’ situation. Indeed it is about more than showing an interviewer your knowledge of and gravitation towards their organisation.
Preparation, above all, translates as an accurate indication of how someone is actually likely to work if they are successful in securing the position. You should therefore ensure that, at the very least, you know the following about a prospective employer before attending interview:
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Who owns the company and how is it funded?
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Is it part of a larger group, or does it have smaller subsidiaries?
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Gain a broader understanding of the market and industry sector in which the company operates? Who are their main competitors? What are potential issues in the medium to long term of being within that market? What are the biggest threats to the business?
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Do a search of recent press cuttings concerning the company. You can then make educated comments on relevant issues during the interview.
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Make sure you are extremely familiar with the company’s website. This should contain relevant press releases as well as access to recent annual reports, accounts and other corporate information.
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Look at past and predicted growth of the business and ask for the client’s view on this in the interview. This will emphasise the fact that you do not have a short-termist or uneducated approach.
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To avoid any basic ‘schoolboy’ errors, make sure you know the exact location and time of your interview. Make sure you are ten minutes early and, fundamentally, that you can pronounce the name of the company correctly!
CV Writing
Body Language
Functional/Technical Skills
Business Acumen
Intellectual Horsepower
Integrity and Trust
Dealing with Ambiguity
Command Skills
