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Recommended reading: The Career Coward's Guide to Interviewing
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You’ve landed an interview – now what? In a recent interview with Katy Piotrowski, author of “The Career Coward’s Guide to Interviewing,” she offered some tips for interview preparation.
1. Put yourself in the hiring manager's shoes. It's natural to slip into an, "It's all about me!" mindset when you're preparing for an interview. But, consider what the hiring manager may be facing as she interviews you for this position. What are her challenges? What responsibilities does she need for you to handle? What would she hope for in a stellar worker?
2. Think through your past successes. Now that you've considered the hiring manager's priorities, challenge yourself to come up with several examples of times when you've demonstrated your strengths in those areas. Write out a list of these examples, keeping in mind that school, volunteer, personal projects and former work experiences all count.
3. Practice saying your successes aloud in advance of the interview. Share your examples in a three-part format: What was the challenge you were facing, how did you respond to that challenge, and what proof do you have that your efforts were successful? Say each example out loud at least three times, making improvements as you practice.
4. Master your, "Tell me about yourself" answer. Since this question usually comes up early in the interview, chances are you'll be nervous when it's asked. Develop a solid answer, covering a little about your career goals and an achievement or two, and then rehearse it until you can practically say it in your sleep.
5. Be prepared for questions that stump you. You can count on being asked questions that you won't have an immediate answer for. When this happens, say, "That's a great question. Let me think for a few seconds..." giving yourself a little time to compose your response. You can also ask for permission to return to the question later in the interview. Just make sure that you do!
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