If you make it to the interview stage of the hiring process, it's important not to panic. Worrying is a waste of time, and it can actually make you appear anxious or unprofessional when you meet with hiring managers. Instead of panicking, take a look at the job description. The description should contain plenty of information to help you prepare for your job interview.
Most interviewers want to hear about how your past experience makes you qualified for a new position. If you usually struggle to come up with examples, look to the job description for guidance. A job description usually outlines the educational requirements and personality traits required for success in a particular role, giving you all the information you need to come up with examples from past jobs. Come up with an example for each item listed in the description, and you are bound to make a good impression on the interviewer.
The job description is also a good source of information for developing mock interview questions. If the description says you need excellent customer service skills, a good interview question would be "Tell me about a time you helped a customer solve a problem" or "What would you do if you had to work with a difficult customer?" Go through the job description, and turn every item into a sample interview question. If possible, have someone conduct several mock interviews using the questions you develop. It's important to practice your answers, but don't practice so much that it sounds rehearsed when you finally have your interview.
Interviewers love it when candidates tell stories about their experiences. Reviewing the job description can help you come up with appropriate anecdotes for your interview. If the job requires above-average computer skills, for example, you might want to tell the interviewer about the time you repaired your own computer by reading a repair manual and watching videos on YouTube. Not only does this anecdote show that you have excellent computer skills, but it also indicates that you are willing to take initiative and learn new things.
You should never leave a job interview without asking the interviewer a few questions of your own. If you have trouble coming up with questions, let the job description be your guide. In most cases, the description does not list all of the required qualifications or essential duties of the position. If you notice something is missing, ask the interviewer about it. Asking this type of question shows that you pay attention to detail, which is an attractive quality in any candidate.
In some cases, a job description is a treasure trove of information for candidates. If you are scheduled for an interview, take time to review the description carefully. With the right amount of preparation, you are sure to impress the interviewer.
Photo courtesy of Phil McAndres at Flickr.co
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