Interviewing for the Job You’ve Been Dreaming Of

Over the past few months, we here at Tews Company have provided insight into the hiring process and steps you can take to ease the stress that comes along with being on the job market. Tews Company has a 20+ year history of providing strategic IT, Administrative, and Accounting solutions to our partners in Central Florida through the recruiting, hiring, and retention of top tier talent. This post is dedicated to an area that often goes overlooked as many individuals tend to “wing it” during the interview. Others may waste time trying to research everything about the company and in turn lack in other areas of preparation. It’s my pleasure to provide you tips to help you go in feeling better prepared to land your dream job.

Taking a Step Back
Preparation should start before a resume ever hits a hiring manager’s desk. Being a recruiter is a lot like being a matchmaker, and we understand that the best pairings happen when goals, values, and missions align for both the candidate and company. Take the time to evaluate yourself and make a few lists:

• What are my strengths and weaknesses?
• What mission or causes am I passionate about?
• Do I function better on individual tasks or on group collaborations?

Every company is unique and finding the one that hits most of your checkmarks is easier with a partner who understands the market. Speak to your Tews recruiter about what you are looking for to help find you the best match.

The Face-to-Face Interview
Congratulations! You’ve received the call from your Tews recruiter that the company you’ve applied to would like to schedule an interview. Begin your preparation by targeting your research to information found on the company’s website. Plenty of interview talking points and value can be found just a few mouse clicks away. When was the company founded? How are they different from competitors? What is their mission statement? You may also find information about working for the company such as perks, charitable causes, and employee testimonials. Although you should take reviews with a grain of salt, it’s never a bad idea to review sites like Glassdoor to get a feel for what previous employees have to say about the company and CEO. Other research tools include social media, news outlets, and if possible, a current employee you may know. Do you know who is leading the interview? Ask to connect with them on LinkedIn! Understanding the background of the person you will be speaking with can help you go in feeling more prepared. What was their career path? How long have they been in their current position? Were they promoted from within the company?  Try and find some common ground to connect on (school, interests, previous employment, common connections, etc.) Making a solid first impression is over half of the battle in landing the job.

The Job Description
The job description is used to provide a framework of what the individual will be accomplishing on a typical day-to-day. While this may give a 10,000 ft view, always ask your Tews recruiter if they have learned any additional details into what the hiring manager considers a top skill or attribute to have. Highlight the top three experiences/skills necessary for success and make notes to yourself about specific instances where you have accomplished these to bring up during the interview. Still feeling nervous about how to convey your experiences into professional talking points? You are not alone. Many people, including great public speakers, can still get nervous during an interview and leave feeling as though they did not provide enough to sell themselves. Getting good at interviews comes with practice, practice, practice. Your recruiter is happy to have a mock interview with you to help you fine tune your highlight points to help you best convey your message.

Next Steps
Here are some other vital areas of preparation that we have touched on in previous posts but are very important to solid preparation and worth noting twice. Come professionally dressed and arrive early to the interview. Plan your route in advance and give yourself enough time to account for traffic. Bring a pen, a professional notepad, and a few copies of your resume. Bring a list of 3-5 well-researched questions to ask the interviewer. Lastly, bring a smile and the confidence that you are well prepared to succeed in your next career adventure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kevin Bickham, Sr. Recruiter- Information Technology