How to Nail a Job Interview
Summer has begun and our J Camps are getting ready to have their best season yet. At the same time, JCC Chicago is already looking ahead to fall. Before you know it, our Early Childhood and J at School programs will be back in session and, with that, comes a lot of great employment opportunities. Don’t spend your time being nervous about a job interview. Instead, focus on being prepped and prepared. Here’s how…
Research Perspective Employer
The best preparation for a job interview is to learn all about the organization. Read through the employer’s website and look to see if the annual report is published. Often times, the annual report will give you guidance on how the organization is structured. If you know someone who works at the organization, reach out and conduct a “mini-interview” to see what the work culture or an average day is like. Gaining insight on specific behaviors and practices improves your likelihood of success for getting the job.
Come up with a Strong Self-Narrative
In any job interview, it’s important to display confidence. Therefore, a successful candidate should have a clear and concise self-narrative that describes career experiences. Most interviews start with the candidate telling the perspective employer about his or her work history. A prepared candidate can articulate past work history and successfully highlight important achievements.
Work Product
A successful candidate should bring to the interview work samples from previous places of employment. Think about the type of work that makes the open position unique and how you can highlight your experience and expertise in the area.
Follow-Up
Always send a thank you note to the person who conducted the interview. At the end of the interview, make sure you ask for a business card with the interviewer’s contact information. Email is the quickest way to send a thank you note, but if the interest in the position is really strong, take the time to send a handwritten note. That shows maturity, confidence and desire for the position.
The job interview process is stressful and ripe with uncertainty. While there are no guarantees, following these four steps can help a candidate be confident in his ability to put the best foot forward. Good luck!