6 Resources You Need To Use Before (and After) Your Interview

There are countless interview tips and interview techniques to choose from when preparing for a job interview. With too many blogs and articles to count explaining the best ways to smile, sit, how many times to blink, it can be daunting to pick out the useful information from the barrage of helpful hints and counsel. While much of the information is helpful,  translating the tons of tips and tricks into useable advice can be as much of a challenge as finding a new job!

Which information should you turn to when you are trying to prep for  what might be your most important verbal exam?

Instead of the standard list of what you should or shouldn’t do, we here at Luna Data Solutions have compiled a list of resources to help you as you prepare. The truth is, every job is different; each company hires for different skills or qualities. Some are more concerned with a culture fit while others adhere to strict requirements on experience and education.

The resources listed below will help advise you on how to dress, act, answer, respond, and move on with confidence and grace. There’s no need to overthink the details, but it won’t hurt to consider them. That’s  how we help at Luna—by finding the right roles for strong candidates—but as you get ready for the interview, knowing the temperature of the pool you’re diving into can help get your mind ready for the water.

1. Know Why They Called You

Try to get a feel for those qualities or skills for which this interviewer is seeking a candidate like you. Look up the company, read their LinkedIn information and the type of things they tend to post, check out their Facebook page, take a moment to visit their reviews on Glassdoor, see what they’ve posted to Twitter lately, and then check out some of the resources below to learn about highlighting the qualities about you that fit the type of position and the company for which you’ll be interviewing.

Read over The #1 Thing Hiring Managers Are Looking For By Kristin Flink Kranias for some additional insight into why hiring managers often pick their person out of their interview options. Some of the feedback may surprise you. If not, you’re probably way ahead of this game already.

2. Dressing for Your Interview

Hopefully, you have a basic idea of how you ought to dress for your interview, but just in case you aren’t sure or for some fresh pointers, visit http://www.everydayinterviewtips.com/ to download an eBook by Lia, a subject matter expert. Let her advice guide your wardrobe choices. While you’re doing your research into the company you’re interviewing with, find out their dress code and if possible, dress one step above (unless it’s business attire—no need for a tux!). Focus your talents on the interview itself rather than burning out your brain power deciding what you'll wear.

3. Practice Makes Presentable

The usual questions will (almost) certainly be used to gauge your personality and experience. Monster (which you may have used to find your potential job in the first place) has an extensive list to peruse. If you take a moment to practice some of your answers, you’ll have a better idea of how you will respond should those questions come your way.

While you’re at it, practice with some of the weirder questions. You may not be able to anticipate every interview twist and turn, but you might have a better sense of how you’ll approach the especially unusual queries without freezing up. Take a look at 6 Trickiest Job Interview Questions of 2015 for a sampling of what some of the most creative hiring managers have come up with.

4. Some Simple Rules to Take With You to Your Interview

Take the time to slow down and consider some basic interviewing tips and advice for during the interview. Job.com has a Best Interview Tips list that is short, concise, and memorable such as reminding you to present facts rather than opinions when you talk about your career background. A set of useful interview tips might be handy to review the night before so you can stop envisioning scenarios of sweaty palms, spinach in your teeth, or mismatched shoes.

Relax, prepare, and sell your talented self. It also won’t hurt to chuckle over some mistakes made by those who have interviewed before. You probably know better than to crack inappropriate jokes or drink alcohol at the interview, but it may lighten your mood to read about folks who did. 

5. Do You Even Want to Work At This Place?

                      (Hopefully you've already thought this through...)

In a perfect world, we’d be interviewing the hiring manager, deciding whether or not this the right job. While you may have that luxury someday (when you are a high-level executive or professional that everybody is fighting to hire) you may have limited options for now.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have some questions you want to ask, though. In fact, “Do you have any questions for us?” is a pretty popular interview closer for hiring managers who would like to see your more introspective side. Utilize the information you took the time to learn about the company from their social media, website, and reviews to craft your legitimate questions and concerns about their company.

Take some time to think through what is important to you professionally and personally. Better yet, have your favorite questions ready. Be the intelligent and thoughtful person you know you are, and make sure you ask about the things that will make this job prospect worth your time.

Remember: Why did they call you for an interview in the first place? They called you because they think you’re the right person for the job.  All you have to do now is show your new company why they were right.

6. Once it’s All Over…

If things don’t go well, use what you’ve learned for next time. Take a look at Dealing With the Sting of Rejection and remember, if you didn’t get picked for this job, there’s a good chance it wasn’t the one for you anyway. No matter how it goes, remember to send a “thank you” note. If they remember you fondly, they may call you again or refer you to a colleague.

Review your resume, access the strengths and weaknesses of the interview, and get ready for the next round. Hopefully, you won’t have to worry about this because it will work out the first time you try, but just in case, maintain your perspective: most of us interview a couple times before we find the perfect fit.