| When it comes to landing that dream job, it is usually | | | | feel for the issues, challenges and opportunities facing |
| the candidate who performs best at the interview who | | | | the industry. This information will help you to present as |
| wins. Even if other contenders have more impressive | | | | a knowledgeable and well read candidate at the |
| resumes, better qualifications and more experience, | | | | interview, setting you apart from most other applicants. |
| employers are invariably swayed by the person who | | | | Your job interview preparation should also include a |
| has obviously done extensive job interview preparation | | | | thorough understanding of the position you are |
| and impresses most on the day. | | | | interested in obtaining. You should be able to obtain |
| Proper job interview preparation involves taking the | | | | from the recruiter a detailed job specification so that |
| time to focus on the position you have applied for, and | | | | you can assess the skills and expertise the company |
| be convinced in your own mind that this really is the | | | | is looking for. Then you can match this to your own |
| job you want. Any doubts that you may have about | | | | strengths and core competencies, and be prepared at |
| the job in question need to be dispelled as the first part | | | | the interview to explain how you are an excellent |
| of your job interview preparation. This is very | | | | match for the position. |
| important because as hard as you may try to disguise | | | | One final piece of job interview preparation is to obtain |
| your doubts, any competent interviewer will be able to | | | | a referral from a company employee. Whilst a typical |
| detect your reticence about the position and | | | | company may receive hundreds of job applications for |
| immediately disregard you as a serious prospect for | | | | a specific position, usually 35% to 60% of all vacancies |
| the job. | | | | are filled by a referred candidate. If you do not know |
| Having established that you really do want this job, the | | | | an employee, try networking groups such as alumni, |
| next stage of your job interview preparation is to | | | | trade organizations, professional associations and |
| conduct some research about the company you are | | | | social networks. A lot of this networking activity can |
| applying to work for. The Internet in particular provides | | | | now be completed online so there is a good chance |
| a wealth of information in the form of company | | | | you can uncover a good referral that will maximize |
| reports, press releases and the like that can be used | | | | your chances of landing the dream job. |
| to show your knowledge of the company at the | | | | So the best job interview preparation involves being |
| interview. | | | | convinced yourself that this is the job you want, |
| In a similar way, if the company you are hoping to join | | | | researching the position applied for, the company and |
| is in an industry that you know little about, it will pay off | | | | the industry, and find a referral. With all of that done, |
| for you to do some further industry investigation. Find | | | | the dream job is yours for the taking - good luck! |
| out who your competitors are likely to be, and get a | | | | |