The fundamentals before, during and after the interview

[The Graduate]

Contrary to what many people think, the job interview process is not just what happens during the interview. There are some guidelines to respect before and after the interview.

Before the Interview

• Rule number one; put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes. In order to have a good interview, it is important to know what the interviewer thinks and have an idea about the questions the interviewer might ask. The goal of the interviewer is to hire the best candidate, which means the person who will fit into the organization and stay in the company for a long period of time. Don’t forget, the interviewer will judge the applicant’s capacity to do the work.

• Take the time to prepare an answer to the most common interview questions, such as “tell me more about you,” “Why should I hire you?” or “what are you strengths and weaknesses?”

• Before the interview you need to conduct research to find information about the company. www.vault.com is a great website where jobseekers can find information about companies.

• Take the time to prepare informed and intelligent questions you will ask during the interview. That will show that you research the company.

During the interview

• Use specific examples from your past job experience or from your academic achievements to demonstrate your accomplishments.

• As a rule, the interviewer will ask at the conclusion of the interview “do you have any questions?” Use this opportunity to ask questions to find out more information about the company and the position. The questions you should ask the interviewer could be “What are the company’s values?” or “What can you tell me about the individual to whom I would report?”

• During the interview process there are some Do’s and Don’ts you need to be aware of. For Examples, arrive 10 minutes early at your interview or “Don't act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment.”

After the interview (“follow up”)

• It is recommended to send a thank you letter or note. Write the interviewer a letter expressing your appreciation and interests in the position.
• Do not forget to notify your references about the interview, so they will be prepared if the company contacts them.

If you have any suggestions about what should be done, before, during, and after, the job interview or if you have any additional tips for the interview process feel free to leave a comment.