How to Prepare for an Interview - Part 1 of 2

The economy is finally thawing, you've been searching for months and now you've finally landed an interview for a job you'd really love. What should you be doing to ensure you stand out in a very crowded field? PREPARE! Interview preparation is easily the most important task in your job search process. In addition to being familiar with your resume, experts suggest you spend 3-5 hours researching the company, position and the hiring managers and another 5-10 hours familiarizing yourself with your resume, goals and experiences. Don’t wing it. A professional interviewer will be able to determine if you have done your homework or not. Don’t chance getting caught not having done your research and eliminating any chances you have in being considered for the job.

What to Research?

· The Company:

o Company Website – About Us, Management, and Career Page

o Google – where does the company show up? What is currently being said about them?

o Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn – for current corporate culture information.

o Hoovers/WSJ.com/Fortune.com/EdgarOnline/Dun & Bradstreet – for current news, corporate information and financials

o Industry Specific Resources & Trade Publications

· The Background of the Interviewer(s)

o LinkedIn/Facebook/Twitter

§ Professional: background, achievements, education and experiences

§ Personal: Hobbies, Family, Interests, etc…

§ What do you have in common? School? Interests? Keep it professional

· The role for which you are interviewing

o Ask for a copy of the job description (this could be different than the ad posted)

o Google the job title for duties and responsibilities

o Vault.com – has interviewing tips on specific job titles/industries

o Industry specific websites offer job responsibility information—make sure you understand what is being required for the job in terms of duties, achievements, and responsibilities.

o Look an LinkedIn for other people with similar titles and network

Preparing for an interview is the best way to showcase your experience to the hiring manager and communicating to them how you are right for the job. Armed with advanced research on the job, company and culture, you will be able to show how you will fit into the culture and company and make a difference in the job. This is an investment in yourself. You are worth it.

Lisa Rangel, PHR (Professional in Human Resources), is the Managing Director of Chameleon Resumes and a graduate of Cornell University. She knows first-hand what resumes hiring managers respond to and from what interviews companies make hires resulting from her 13+ years experience recruiting for international recruitment organizations and boutique search firms. Lisa can show candidates which resume formats and interview tactics she and her corporate clients have responded to when recruiting top-notch candidates. She has written resumes, prepared candidates for interviews and performed job search coaching for professionals ranging from executive to entry-level to returning to work in marketing, sales, legal, accounting, finance, administrative, hospitality, healthcare, education, public service, human resources, technology, management, scientific and public relations disciplines spanning across a multitude of industries and corporate cultures.

Lisa is a member of Society of Human Resources Management, Human Resources Association of New York, and Professional Association of Resumes Writers and Career Coaches. She has been featured on Fox Business News, Good Morning America for Keith Ferrazzi’s “Who’s Got Your Back?” book launch, HeelsConnect.com and Mom-entum Resources.

Lisa Rangel

Chameleon Resumes - Reinvent Yourself!

917-447-1815

lisa.rangel@chameleonresumes.com

www.chameleonresumes.com

link with me: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lisarangel

Twitter: @lisarangel