How to Prep Answers to Job Interview Questions

The Challenge of Providing Meaningful Information to Interviewers

Jul 8, 2009 Deborah S. Hildebrand

Interviewers and hiring managers are different. Each has his own interview style and favorite questions. So what can job seekers do to prepare for a job interview?

There seems to be an unwritten belief that anyone who conducts job interviews uses certain basic interview questions. The fact is the job interview questions available and the recruiters and hiring managers that use them are as diverse as the job seekers they interview and, therefore, recruiters and hiring managers all have different interview styles and questions for job interviews.

Yes, there are some generic interview questions that many people who conduct job interviews ask. Yes, there is some basic information that most interviewers want to know about candidates. However, there is no guarantee which interview questions an interviewer or hiring manager will ask when a job seeker goes to a job interview.

That being said, it is very important that job seekers organize themselves in advance of the job interview to be ready to handle whatever is thrown their way. And to do this means research and prep work.

Job Seekers Need to Study the Company

One of the best ways to prepare for a job interview is to find out more about the potential new employer ahead of time. This is not to be a show off. It is merely to enable job seekers to have a better understanding of what they might be getting themselves into. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

Many company websites contain information about the company mission, vision and values, important elements of what a company is all about; so conducting pre-interview research on an organization may enable job seekers to gain a better understanding of the company culture.

In addition, most company web sites share current news and press releases which can shed light on the status of the firm. Plus job seekers are likely to find a section about careers where other job openings as well as company benefits programs will be listed.

Finally, the most important reason for conducting company research prior to a job interview is to determine if there are any tidbits of information or hot news stories, on the company website or elsewhere, that may provide insight into potential problems or prompt job seekers to ask specific questions to assist them to determine if this is really the place they want to work.

Job Seekers Need to Study Their Own Work History

The second important part of job interview research is all about self-study. This means job seekers need to take the time to study their own background to ensure they have a thorough understanding of their own work history, skills and achievements so that they are prepared to handle any questions that are asked in the job interview.

Now this might seem like a no-brainer; however, it is amazing how many job seekers step into a job interview and, either because of nerves or a lack of preparation, immediately forget everything they’ve ever known about their own background and work experience. Not a good situation. The inability to respond to job interview questions in a cohesive and succinct manner is not likely to win a job offer.

The fact is that job seekers can never be too prepared for the job interview process. Now that doesn’t mean they should sound over rehearsed, just knowledgeable and polished enough to get the job.

The copyright of the article How to Prep Answers to Job Interview Questions in Career Advice is owned by Deborah S. Hildebrand. Permission to republish How to Prep Answers to Job Interview Questions in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Prepare for Job Interview