An interview is a competitive process. That's why job seekers need to prepare as much as possible for that day that could effectively change the course of their lives. The problem, however, is that too many people fail to do that. Instead of getting things running as they receive a phone call for an interview, too many job seekers get lazy or suddenly feel apprehensive. What better way to avoid that feeling of apprehension than to avoid thinking about Interview Day? As a result, they delay preparing for that crucial moment until the last minute.
Wishful thinking will not get you where you want to be. You need to work hard for it. The first stage in preparing for an interview is to research:
the organization,
the position,
the industry, and
the interviewers' background.
Research is important because you want to arrive at the interview "knowledgeable." Knowledge is key because it will allow you to have interesting conversations and put things in the right context. The other reason why research is so important is because it will help you get into the right state of mind. You have no more excuses not to do proper research in this day and age. With the advent of the Internet, all this can be done from the comfort of your own home.
Once you have done your research, the next step is to review your credentials. Since you already did your research, you will be able to target key elements of your background or personality that you would like to emphasize during the interview meeting. Reviewing your credentials means that you should go through your resume and cover letter in detail. Regarding your resume, keep in mind that whatever is on there is most often very synthesized. You need to be able to elaborate on whatever is written on your resume, including citing relevant examples to back up your assertions.
