We've listed below some things that employers want to know from an interview, as well as things that the candidate should look at learning from an interview.You may want to keep these things in mind during your interview.
Things the Employer Wants to Know
During the interview, the employer wants to get to know you better and judge whether you would be a good fit within the organization. Specifically, the employer wants to know the following types of things:
Who are you?-The employer wants to get an idea of who you are. Are you a friendly, easy going character who will fit in with the rest of the team, or are you an intense individual who will work well in an independent role? What are your likes and dislikes? What do you do outside of work? All of these things act together to make you the person you are, and that brings us to an important point. Apart from the obvious needs such as skills and experience, an individual's personality can sometimes influence a company's decision to employ a person. Even the best database designer in the world will have problems finding work if he or she shows indications of a "difficult" personality. If you want an employer to know that you have good communication skills and can work well with coworkers, exemplify those skills well through your interview.
What do you know?-The employer will want to get a real idea of what you actually know.Your certification or degree may say one thing, but what do you know that he needs? As mentioned in the technical interview section, this area is often tackled in a distinctively separate section of the interview, other times it will be intermingled.
What do you want?-This question does not refer to just tangible benefits such as salary and health plans, it is more about finding out what you are looking for from a position. The employer is looking to match the job he has with your goals and aims. The closer the match, the more likely you are to be a content employee who will remain with the organization for a longer period of time.
Things the Candidate Wants to Know
The interview serves as an opportunity for you to size up the company and the work opportunity it has to offer. The interview provides the best chance you have to find out about your potential duties and how you will fit into their organization. Conventional wisdom seems to dictate that the interview is the domain of the employer, and you are almost solely there to answer their questions.This is not the case. In particular, you should focus on the following points:
- What is the job?-Get a good idea of what the job is all about. An employer is likely to give a good overview of your duties and responsibilities, but will relate this information from his or her perspective. The interviewer is unlikely to say that any of the tasks are boring or mundane. You need to factor this "rose tint" perspective into your thinking.
- What is the company like?-Any employer giving an interview is likely to give a glowing report of the company. Look at it from that perspective-no one wants to work for a bad company. Tike the information given in this respect lightly, but obviously appear enthusiastic. Make your judgments based on what you have learned through your research and professional networking as much as the interviewers opinions.
- What am I going to get?-As well as the obvious things such as salary and benefits, you have the opportunity to find out what the future can hold for you. The interview is your chance to match the job with your career goals and aspirations.
It may seem that breaking the interview process down in this way simplifies it a little too much, but realistically, these are the things that each party is looking for. If you spend some time before an interview preparing yourself for answers to some possible questions, as well as creating questions of your own that might exemplify who you are and what you're looking for, then your preparedness and enthusiasm will shine.
Strategic Decisions
A large part of the job search preparation involves developing a strategy for self-promotion. A job search is a bit like an ad campaign, your goal is to get out there and promote your skill, training, and, if applicable, your experience to potential employers. It's all about marketing, and you and your skills are the product. Be aware, however, that the process of self-promotion is a bit of an art and runs a fine line between over promotion and under promotion. Somewhere in between these two is the best place to be.
During your job search, there are specific tools you can use to self-promote yourself. Everyone seeking employment has access to these tools, but it is the proficiency in how they are used that makes the difference. The key tools for self-promotion are the cover letter and resume, which we covered in the last chapter. But now you must consider how the tools can best be used, and how you will convey your message to employers.
