How to Own an Interview

I know many people out there have different ideas of what is important for a good interview, but for me the key is and has always been Confidence.

Most interviews are one-sided, uncomfortable, and many candidates leave feeling like they were under a microscope, asking themselves, “Did I do okay?” In your heart you already know the answer and you can bet the employer does to. The key is in understanding how interviews work. While each one is different, there will be an opportunity to impress the employer the way you want to. What you have to do is recognize when this chance comes up and make sure to take full advantage of it, for if you don’t you take the risk of not standing out and setting yourself apart from all the other candidates.

If you ask the right questions you will show that you are compassionate about the opportunity and not only how you need this job, but how the employer needs you on their team.
Ideas and information that will help on your next interview:

Know the Employer

• Research the company you are applying for. Understand its history and what future it aspires to.
• What is the culture of the company and the industry it is in?
• What are the company goals for the next year and the next 5 years?
• Know the job you are applying for. Study the job description and know what points of your past experience matches with their needs.
• Know the competition – understand what their strengths and weaknesses are

Need for the position

• What is the need for this position?
• What are some issues that would be at the top of the priority list to correct if I started tomorrow?
• What are the expectations for the first 12 months?
• What happened to the individual that was in this previously in this position?
• What does the company do well?
• Where were they lacking?

Pitfalls to stay clear of

• Never ask “What does your company do?”
• Stay clear of money till the employer brings it up
• Don’t focus on vacation and what holidays they take off
• Stay away from health issues – both physical and mental – you need to show yourself to be reliable
• Do not bring up Home issues – that’s where they stay at home. Employers don’t care about nanny drama
• Name-dropping – while you might know some people that work within the company, you don’t know how the company perceives that employee.

Follow-ups / Follow-ups / Follow-ups

• Question if there is anything you can clarify that has been said
• Ask and provide any additional information about your qualifications
• Find out how their selection process is and what are the next steps are for you

Always remember an interview is a two-way road. If you - Do Your Homework you can impress upon a potential employer that you can be a valuable asset to their company’s future success.

By: Chris Magers, Medical Recruiter