We are in a buyer’s market when it comes to finding a job. We are seeing unemployment rates that haven’t been this low since 1969 and there are over 6 million jobs open in the United States right now. Companies need good workers and that is good news for a job seekers. This means you have choices. To help you make the best choice for you, here are some tips when preparing for an interview:
- Know what you want – this sounds easy but make sure you take some time ahead of the interview to really think about the job you are qualified for and what will make you happy. Think about the type of culture suits you, the extent of physical activity you want, how far you want to commute to your job, etc.
- Research the company – it is easy to pull up the company’s website and look around. How big are they, how long have they been in business, what do they do? You can also search for employee reviews of the company. If you find negative reviews, don’t necessarily disqualify the company. Every company can have negative reviews. Use the reviews to drill down on potential issues during the interview.
- Prepare questions – During your research, create a list of questions that are important to you and your work experience. Some potential questions could be “What is the company culture?”, “Is there a dress code and if so, what is it?”, “Is there any equipment needed for the job and if so, who provides it?”. Once you have your questions, ask multiple people the questions and compare the responses. Ideally, the answers are consistent.
- Job Shadow – see if the company has the ability to shadow the role you will be going into. Not all companies offer this, but some will. This gives you an opportunity to see what you will be doing and whether it is a fit. If there is not shadowing, see if you could at least take a tour of the job area or talk with current employees