You know that feeling you get when a roller coaster is just about to crest a large climb and begin a plunging descent?  Pure. Terror. That’s how many people feel when pulling up to a business (or, more recently, logging into Zoom) before a job interview.

But what if I told you that, if you prepare well, you can go into those meetings with confidence and purpose?  All it takes is a little homework and some empathy.  Read on for a few tips from me, a recruiter, on how to prepare for a job interview.

I’m going to skip the standard advice – get a good night’s sleep, eat a good breakfast, test your driving time to make sure you’re not late, etc.  I guess the “Zoom era” equivalent of testing the drive time would be checking your Zoom background for distractions and making sure to wear pants even if you don’t plan on standing.

To best prepare for a job interview – any job interview – you need to do two important things.

1. Put yourself in the company’s shoes. They have a problem and you just might be the solution. An open job can be costly, not to mention the strain it can put on other employees and sales budgets. You’re here to help, so approach each interview question as the company asking for your expert advice on how to solve the problem they have. Keeping this in mind can give you some valuable insight into how you should answer the interviewer’s questions. So, when they ask you about sharing your previous experiences, give examples of times you stepped up and made a difference! If you’re familiar with the industry in which you’re interviewing, use that knowledge to anticipate some of the areas you’re likely to be asked about. Google common interview questions. Learn about the company you’re interviewing for and use information in the interview that will let them know you did your homework!
2. Speaking of homework, map out a few really good questions. Zingers. Questions that show the interviewer you’re interested, invested, and intelligent. You’d be shocked at how few people actually do this in interviews. Ask the interviewer about the goals for the position, or what is on the horizon for a top performer in the role. Ask what an ideal hire would do in the first month/6 months/year to be successful in the job – and then show the interviewer how you’re perfectly positioned to do just that!
3. Finally, avoid common mistakes. You probably know many of the mistakes to avoid, but one thing that can create obstacles is asking reasonable questions at the wrong Keep your earliest questions focused on the job and how to be successful in the role. Questions about scheduled pay increases, vacation time, and bonuses may be premature in preliminary interviews and could come across the wrong way. Give yourself the best chance to learn that information by being patient and focused first on what you can do to help the organization thrive (see item 1)!  Information about perks and raises are important to have, but the best time to ask these questions is often in second interviews or follow up interviews after mutual interest between you and the organization is established.

Interviews don’t have to be scary. Great interviewers treat candidates like experts and interviews like conversations. With a little preparation, you can focus on putting your best foot forward; confident in your worth and the value you can bring an organization.

Want to learn more about starting a career with Funeral Directors Life? Go to www.funeraldirectorslife.com/sales/sales-careers to view current job openings or send me an email at [email protected] to set up a time to learn more about joining our team here at FDLIC.