Knowing Yourself and Your Resume Before each interview you first need to research you
Think of yourself as the product and put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes. Why should they hire you? What specific qualifications and experiences do you have that make you unique? Take your resume and go through each item and prepare situational examples detailing everything you listed. Doing so helps you better illuminate your skills and experiences. Think of examples from your nonprofessional life as well. Be prepared to discuss both successes and challenges in a positive manner.
Know the Organization and Industry Your job is to convince the interviewer that you are the right person
The interviewer is essentially trying to discern if you’re a good fit for the organization and the industry, its culture, and its customers or constituents. Your job is to convince the interviewer that you are the right person. Talk with people who work with the organization or in a similar type of job. Research the organization and industry through their website, articles, etc. Get all the information you can about the organization’s culture, reporting structure, expectations, constituents, and how this position fits into the overall picture. Determine the organization’s place in the industry and research industry trends and current events. You should sound like an expert in the interview. On the other hand, you’re also trying to decide if you want to work there. Prepare, in advance, questions regarding the above issues. You want to make sure you’re a good fit for this employer and that this position will help you meet your short and long term career goals.
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