Amy Keitel

Short Paper 2
How to Prepare for a Job Interview
1) Research the company. Having an understanding of the industry and what the company
does will allow you to speak intelligently on how the job you have applied for contributes
to the larger company goals.
2) Study your resume and be prepared to speak to every job, educational, and extracurricular
experience you have listed. You should be able to expand on all items on your resume.
3) Prepare answers to behavioral questions. There is no way of knowing what types of
behavioral questions you will be asked, but it is wise to have a general idea of how you
will respond to questions such as, describe how you overcame a problem in a previous
organization, or, how would you handled a difficult coworker in the past?
4) Develop a response for why you are seeking new employment, especially if you are
applying for the job because of dissatisfaction with your current or former employer.
You dont want to speak negatively of an employer as it can be a sign of compromised
integrity.
5) Prepare yourself to strike a balance between being modest and selling yourself as a
candidate who will bring much value to the position and the company.
6) Buy clothing as necessary to look the part. Dress professionally. Suits are always a good
choice of attire for interviews. However, you should consider the type of industry you
are applying to work in and tailor your attire to look professional in that industry.
7) Practice, or consciously think about the non-verbal communication you will employ
during the interview. You should have a sturdy handshake, smile as much as possible,
and make eye contact.
8) Arrive to the interview early. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the interview location
in case of traffic or if you have trouble finding the building. Showing up late is not a
good first impression while showing up early does offer a good first impression.
9) Dont stress! Take a deep breath and do the best you can. If you have followed the
previous steps, you have done everything you could have to prepare for a successful
interview. Have confidence that you are the right candidate for this position.