Stanfield Systems, Inc. - Preparing for the Interview

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Preparing for the Interview

You'll find that the interview itself will be much less stressful if you do your homework. Follow the steps in our timeline, and by the time your interview begins, you'll be more than ready to project a strong, confident professional image.

Several Days Before the Interview

Know the organization

Explore the company’s website to learn about

Company history
Company founders and leadership
Goals, philosophy and mission statement
Products and/or services
Competitors
Locations and areas of activity
Financial and stock information
Position within its market or area of specialization
Recent news
Greatest current challenges and opportunities
Other positions they may have available
- You might not be a perfect fit for the job you’re interviewing for
- But you might be just right for another one
- Be prepared

Here’s an obvious tip, if you stop and think about it:

While you’re on the company website, search the site for the name and/or title or anyone with whom you’re scheduled to meet
Google allows you to search for specific words throughout a single website

If the company is publicly held, read its annual report.

Use Google News to search for articles about the company.

Do additional research on relevant third party websites.

Talk to people you know who may have worked for the organization, or know someone who did.

Don’t forget to spend some time on networking sites like LinkedIn, to see if anyone might be able to give you some useful background information.

Review your resume

You probably think that by now you know your resume by heart. But can you discuss in detail each of your jobs and accomplishments?

Review your resume and compare it with the position description. Try to figure out just what the company saw in your backgrouind to make them think that you might be a great fit for the position. Be prepared to focus on those strengths when you interview.

Remember: Your resume is just the starting point for further discussion with the interviewer.

Gather everything you’ll need

Make a list well ahead of time, and gather your materials in advance.

Consider bringing all of the following materials with you:

Extra copies of your resume
- Have more than enough copies for everyone you might meet with
- These should be printed sharply on good quality paper
Bring a copy of the Stanfield Systems Candidate FACs form
- Something on this form probably caught the eye of your interviewer
- This can remind you of highlights that you really want to discuss
Have you been asked to bring specific materials? Do not forget them!
Bring other supporting documents if you think they might be discussed or relevant to questions that might be asked
- Examples of these include
  - The longest and most detailed version of your resume, as a memory aid for previous positions
  - Work you’ve done that’s similar to what the position involves
  - Letters of reference
  - Articles you’ve written
  - Copies of presentations you’ve given publicly
  - It can’t hurt to have copies of your professional certifications or licenses
  - If you’re fresh out of school, consider bringing copies of your transcripts
Bring newer, well-kept professional quality materials with you
- Carry a good quality folder
  - Consider a briefcase or attaché if you've been asked to bring a lot of material
  - Otherwise, keep things simple and substitute a nice leather notebook, folder or padfolio
- Don’t forget business cards, in a simple, good quality card case
- What else might you need?
  - Your professional address book?
  - A calculator?
  - Be prepared
- Carry classic, good quality pens and pencils
  - Bring more than one
  - You just know that this will be the exact day and time that your best pen runs out of ink
- All of these accessories give you yet another opportunity to present a professional appearance in a quiet, subtle way. Take advantage of this
Warning: Don't drag any of these documents out unless you've been asked to!
- Don't overwhelm your interviewer
- Don't look desperate
- Just be prepared

Rehearse

Find a quiet spot and think about how the interview might go

How will you introduce yourself?
What small talk will you and the interviewer engage in at first?
What questions might the interviewer ask? (Don’t miss our list of likely questions)
How, specifically, will you answer these questions to present yourself most favorably?
What questions will you have for the interviewer? (Again, refer to our list of sample questions for ideas)
How will you handle questions about money or benefits?
Create a list in your head of your “greatest hits” that you will work into the conversation

Now take the next step and practice with someone

Ask a friend or your spouse to play the role of the interviewer
Try turning things around, and ask your helper the interviewer’s questions
- This will help you understand what the interviewer is looking for
Remember: The more you practice, the less stress you’ll feel – and the more natural you will appear during the interview

Throughout your interview rehearsals, visualize yourself behaving calmly and professionally. Visualize yourself listening carefully to questions and then giving brief, clear and responsive answers. See yourself as successful, and you will be more successful.

Don’t be caught unprepared. You have plenty of time to research the company and the requirements of the job. You have plenty of time to rehearse how you will handle the interview. You can shine at your interview if you’ve done your homework.

Know who you’ll be talking with

Find out as much of the following information as you can:

Who you will be meeting with
Full name (and spelling) and title
What, exactly is their function within the organization?
Will you be speaking with a hiring manager, someone from HR, or an internal recruiter?
Will the interviewer be a supervisor for the position you’re seeking?
Will you be meeting with other peer level personnel or other managers from the department, or with people from other departments?
Don’t forget to check to see if you know anyone who might be taking part in the interview process – or anyone else at the company
Visit our Networking page for several resources that can help you determine if you might know someone who knows someone at the organization

What will the interview process be like?

Will you be meeting with one person, or several?
If several people will participate, will they all be present at the same time?
Will there be more than one interview during the day?

Be proactive

You don’t have to wait passively to find out what happens next during the interview and evaluation process. Assuming a more active role will not only reduce your stress levels, it will also communicate to the employer that you’re someone who thinks ahead and values knowledge.

Look for opportunities to ask questions like these:

What are the steps in the hiring process for this job?
Will there be subsequent interviews or meetings?
What is the anticipated time frame for reaching a decision?
Are any tests required as part of the process?
- These might include any of the following:
  - Psychological, aptitude or intelligence tests
  - Writing and language skills
  - Mathematical skills
  - Technical evaluations
  - Physical examinations – often a euphemism for drug testing
  - Criminal or other background checks
Are you seriously considering any other candidates at this time?
- This can help you get a sense of where you stand
- Asking this question at the right time can also serve to emphasize your interest in the position
Who will make the final decision?
- Will the people you interviewed with be directly involved in the decision?
- Will the decision be a committee process?
- Does one person have greater input than others?

Think about how much more comfortable you will be during the interview process if you know what to expect, and can anticipate what’s coming next.

Touch base with the company

A day or two before your interview, call your contact and verify that you have the correct location, day and time.

In addition to helping prevent unpleasant surprises, making this call will help show the company that you’re thoughtful and detail oriented. Isn’t it better to demonstrate a quality, rather than just list it on a resume?

Verify the name and position of anyone who is expected to be interviewing you. Take your time and make sure you record all of this information accurately.

A Day or Two Before the Interview

Scout the location

Reduce your stress by being fully prepared
Print out a sheet to take with you with all essential data:
- Time of your interview
- Interviewer name and title
  - Get the spelling right
  - Be sure you can pronounce the name correctly
- Interviewer phone numbers
- Any other contact names, titles and phone numbers
- The main number of the company
- Street address, suite number, etc. of where you’ll meet the interviewer
Take advantage of Mapquest or a similar site
- Create a map and detailed directions from your location to the interview location
- Verify that all directions are accurate
At least one day before your interview, go to the interview location
- If you’ll be driving:
  - Verify your directions
  - Locate the parking garage
  - Make sure you have the change or bills required for parking
  - Never ask the interviewer to validate your parking
- If you plan to take public transportation:
  - Determine the closest stop
  - Be sure you know how long it takes to walk to the interview site
- Always leave yourself plenty of time to get lost
- Enter the building if you can, and orient yourself
- Are there checkpoints that might delay you?
- Where are the elevators?
- Are there public bathrooms available?

The night before the interview

Get some sleep!

If you’ve followed our tips, you’ve done everything you can to prepare for your interview. Now it’s time to relax and get some rest.

Watch TV or read a book the night before. Avoid liquor and anything with caffeine in it. Go to bed early, and remind yourself of what a good job you’ve done getting ready for the next day.

On the Day of the Interview

Give yourself plenty of time

Arrive early at the location. Again, this is a simple way to reduce your stress level.

Bring something light to read.

Don’t drink too much coffee or water ahead of time! You don’t need any additional distractions once the interview starts.

Find a quiet place to park, and wait until about fifteen minutes before your scheduled interview time.

Now you can walk in a leisurely fashion to the building, already knowing pretty well where you’re going.

Try to arrive at the interviewer’s office no more than five minutes before your scheduled appointment time.

Finally – and don’t forget this: Turn off your cell phone! Turn off phones, pagers and any other devices that might interrupt the flow of the interview.

What if . . . Disaster strikes!

Completely unforeseen problems have a way of popping up at the least convenient times.

You might have a flat tire, or engine trouble. A bridge may be blocked. It could be anything.

(The problem will not, however, be traffic congestion. You allowed yourself plenty of time for that, didn’t you? That’s why you brought a book.)

If you simply won’t be able to keep your appointment on time – start calling. This is why you created that list of all relevant names and phone numbers. If you can’t reach the interviewer directly, keep calling until you reach someone who can get your message to them.

The interviewer will not only understand about an unforeseeable predicament, but be impressed by how prepared you were to deal with it.

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