Grapevine Interview Preparation
Can you do the job?
(be sure to study the job description and company and be prepared to give examples)
- Do you currently possess the skills to do the job at hand and become a productive employee within a reasonable amount of time?
- Have you demonstrated that you can do this job elsewhere? (This is always the best evidence that you possess the required skills.) How successful were you at this job? What types of problems did you encounter? And did these problems draw out your problem-solving abilities and push you to develop new skills, or are they likely to be problems on this job, too?
- If you have not done this job elsewhere, can you provide evidence that you have the necessary skills to succeed at this job?
Are you motivated to do the job well?
- Are you interested in and excited by this type of work?
- What evidence can you provide to support this?
- Will you stay long enough to make a contribution after the expense and time that the company invests in recruiting and training you?
Are you a team player?
- Will you fit in with the "culture" of this organization - the values, attitudes and personal style of this particular workplace?
- Can you give me an example of when you helped other team members to succeed?
- Are you the type of person willing to take on extra tasks when needed?
Are you manageable?
- Do you prefer to work alone or as a team?
- Explain your communicate skills (how do you direct a team or people)?
Can the company afford you?
- Is the salary range for this job compatible with your salary history?
- Does the benefits package meet your needs and expectations?
- Are you only interested in this position because of the salary?
Have you noticed that only one of the five employer concerns is about your skills? The key to successful interviewing is that the person with the best skills or most relevant experience is not necessarily the one who gets the job. If you are not the candidate with the best skill set, you may still get the nod if you are enthusiastic and very well-prepared, and if you can demonstrate that you are motivated, manageable and a team player who fits in with the organization's culture. Conversely, if you are the candidate with the best skills, you can still lose the job if you don't demonstrate that you are also the best person for the job.
As a job seeker, you naturally focus your energies on defining the qualities that you want in a job and an employer. But in an interview situation, the employer is more interested in knowing what you can do for their organization and how you can fill the role they have available. Especially in a strong job market, it is all too easy for inexperienced job seekers to focus on their own needs and desires, while failing to address, in concrete terms, how they can meet the employer's needs.
At the same time, however, the employer wants to determine whether you are sufficiently motivated to excel in this job. While you should focus on the contribution you can make to the organization, you should also convey your interest in the job, the career field and the organization by asking well-thought-out questions and by clearly defining and articulating your career goals.
