Career Corner: 10 Tips to Prepare for a Job Interview

Zoom Job Interview.
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Career Corner BCCC

No matter if it is your first time or your one-hundredth time, job interviews are stressful.

There is so much opportunity for you to do the wrong thing and blow this opportunity that you want so badly. That is why preparation is key.

You can’t anticipate everything that will happen in an interview, but you can get ready for the major hurdles you are likely to encounter.

To help with that, Indeed not only has job listings, but also job advice, including a recent post on how you can prepare for your big interview. Here is a breakdown of some of their advice.

Research the Company

The quickest way to embarrass yourself is to not know the company. It makes you look like someone who is just looking for any old job that will have you.

Check out the company site, know their history, learn about their recent activities, and research the person who will be interviewing you. It might even help you find a good connection to yourself you can mention.

Think How Your Qualifications Match Up

Don’t assume how your skills make you a match for the position are obvious. Draw the parallels between your background and the job qualifications now so you can help the interviewer see the connections as well.

Practice Your Answers

You can’t know everything you will be asked, but there are plenty of general questions that usually come up. “What interested you about this position?” “What do you know about us?” “Tell me about yourself.” Figure out what you want to say now so you aren’t pausing and stammering when it counts.

Bring Copies of Your Resume

It is a digital world, but don’t assume the interviewer will have your resume pulled up on a laptop.

Physical copies make it easier for people to refer to your credentials and will be appreciated if you have them. Likewise, bring a notepad and pen for yourself to help take notes.

Layout Your Attire in Advance

While your ability is what matters most, don’t neglect your appearance either. Even in the professional world, looks matter. Try out your outfit beforehand so you don’t get remembered as the applicant who wore the clashing colors.

Record Yourself as You Practice

It can even be helpful to record yourself answering questions in a practice interview at home. While responding, you might be engaging in habits you don’t realize. Make sure you know how others are seeing you.

Have Prepared Questions for the Interviewer

If this position genuinely excites you, you should certainly have something you want to know more about.

Even if you feel confident in your knowledge of the company, asking something about them conveys that you are interested and enthusiastic.

Have a Travel Plan

If the company is in an area you have never been before, leave yourself ample time to get there ahead of schedule.

You don’t want your first impression to be you being late. Look up your route online, and if needed, maybe even try driving to the company on an earlier day to make sure you know where you need to go.

Have Stories of Your Accomplishments

Don’t depend on just your resume to speak for you. Have anecdotes in mind that bolster the information on your resume and elaborate on how you achieved your past goals. Hearing it from you is more impressive than reading a summary of it.

Follow Up

It might seem like a perfunctory gesture, but following up with your interviewer is expected. Some managers even say they dismiss considering candidates who do not do so. Rather than look at it as a chore, use this thank you email as a last chance to also mention any details you may have forgotten that could help you.

Following all these steps won’t guarantee you the job, but it will help you enter the interview with more confidence and knowledge. Those two traits will be some of your biggest assets in determining if you get hired.

For more tips on how you can make sure you are prepared to make a good impression in your interview, read Indeed’s post here.

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Bucks County Community College, the sponsor of BUCKSCO. Today — Career Corner, is a public community college with over 9,500 full- and part-time students.  

Both affordable and centrally located for people in and around the Bucks County area, the school has three main campuses in Newtown, Bristol, and Perkasie, allowing students to attend throughout the area. 

For those just starting their paths in higher education, or returning to school after a prolonged absence, Bucks County Community College offers over 90 academic programs within seven Academic Departments.  

The school’s 43 Associate’s Degree programs prepare students to pursue either a career or their Bachelor’s degrees after graduation. 

Learn more about Bucks County Community College here.

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