The Pre Interview Checklist Use the practical interview checklist of what you need to do the day before your interview. You want to be sure that you are properly prepared and confident of getting the job. Here is a list of what you should put in your portfolio or briefcase (Remember to clean out your briefcase first, you don't want irrelevant papers flying around when you are trying to retrieve documents from it!) Full name of company, name and position of contact person/interviewer and contact number Full address of company and the department or building where your interview is. Good directions or map. Get these by calling the company, they usually have a standard set of directions they can email you or they can tell you on the phone. You can also obtain a map from an internet map site such as Mapquest or Google Maps. If you are taking public transport have your route prepared. Details of where you can park Put in a couple of copies of your resume. Although the company already has a copy you may need to give another copy to the interviewer or interviewers. Take this opportunity to read through your resume again and note any red flags that will have to be dealt with during the interview. Prepare your Job Interview Answers to tough questions about gaps in employment, reason for leaving etc. Include copies of letters of recommendation or written job references you have. Have copies of your Job References List ready, the interviewer will ask for this during the job interview. Relevant work samples Pen and paper. Taking a few notes during your interview shows you are listening closely. Your business card if you have one The job advert or any details of the position that you have. You may want to refer to this during the interview. Include your Company Background Research. Review the information that you have put together about the organization and the job and consider how you will use it in your interview. Put in the Job Interview Question List you have prepared to ask the interviewer. You should have at least five insightful questions about the job, the company, and management ready to ask. Read through these questions and feel confident about asking them. Go through your interview checklist once again to check you have everything. Once you have prepared your portfolio, do the following on your interview checklist: Visit the Dress for an Interview homepage and decide on the most appropriate clothes to wear to your interview. Take out the clothes you plan to wear and make sure they are clean and pressed. Shoes should be polished. Select the accessories you want to wear. Lay your outfit out ready for the next day. Go through your prepared answers to common Job Interview Questions such as What are your strengths? Why are you the right candidate for this job? Tell me about yourself? You are likely to be asked a number of behavioral interview questions. Prepare using the Behavioral Interview Guide and practice your possible responses. The objective now is not to memorize your answers but to review them and be familiar and confident with them. Try to practice your responses out loud. Ask a friend or family member to do a mock interview with you. Ask for constructive feedback. Use this excellent Mock Job Interview to practice for the real thing.

Make sure you have something nutritious to eat for breakfast the next day, you don't want your stomach rumbling or to feel hungry during your interview. Get a good night's sleep knowing you are fully prepared to ace the interview! Job Interview Info to Set You up for Success The most important job interview info you need to know is this: "Failure to prepare is preparing to fail" (Benjamin Franklin). When you walk into the job interview the better prepared you are with your company research the better your chances of success. Research the company and job opportunity beforehand and show the interviewer how your skills and abilities specifically meet both the job requirements and the company needs. Demonstrate that you are the right candidate for the job by using your company research to answer common Job Interview Questions with relevant and appropriate information. Do your homework and the interviewer will see that you have taken the time to find out about the job and company. This way you demonstrate both your respect and appreciation of the interviewer's time and your interest and enthusiasm for the job. What do you need to know? Information that you will be able to easily find and that will help you answer the job interview questions successfully include: Brief company history such as when it was established, shareholders, expansion, mergers Basic facts such as size, organizational structure, other locations, subsidiaries, holding company, key people Type of products and services it offers, who are the main competitors in this industry Who are the customers and target market, market share it currently holds, suppliers Company culture including mission, vision, values, policies Latest news such as acquisitions, expansion, new products, management changes, redundancies, challenges This information can be sourced in a number of ways. The single best resource is probably to go online to the company's website.Go to your favorite search engine, such as Google.com, type the company name in the search box and follow the link to the company's website. Scroll through all the information, make notes of details you want to remember. Company websites usually feature comprehensive information on the organization. Read it all, even media releases and staff biographies, as you never know which "click" is going to yield valuable

information that will help you ace the interview! Look specifically for information on corporate culture, upcoming opportunities and challenges and latest results. Search on the company website for any details relevant to the position you are being interviewed for. Look at the particular department and staff who work there. Search on the company website for information about the interviewer. If you are being sent to a company interview by a recruiter, ask them to give you details about the interviewer and any other job interview info you need. If the company does not have its own site there are various internet sites that have extensive information about companies and industries. Simply type in the company name and use the different search engines to go to sites that have details on the company. At Preparing for Job Interviews you can find a useful list of websites that provide free company information. Carefully review competitor websites to get details on what else is happening in the particular industry or sector. You can search different news sites on the web for the latest information about the company and the industry. The company's annual report will include a great deal of valuable information, particularly in the "Letter to the Shareholders". Good examples of useful sites for research on the web include businessweek.com where you can search for data on over 350 000 companies. Mergent Online provides business and financial information for over 23,000 U.S. and international companies. For up-to-date info on a specific company you can set up a Google News Alert to send you news as soon as it becomes available. Vault.com company specific message boards are also a good source of information. You can use these to research a specific job and employer. Corporate message boards also give the opinions of current and former employees and provide an interesting perspective on the company, although it is wise to check for themes running through a number of postings rather than taking just one posting at face value. Social networking sites such as Facebook can be used to connect with current employees and find relevant company information. Go to Preparing for an Interview to find more excellent resources for finding company information. Utilize all these different means of researching the company to accumulate as much job interview info as possible. Strategize how you can use this information to demonstrate your suitability for the position. Use the guidelines at Answering Interview Questions to see how to put this information to excellent use when preparing your interview answer to why the company should hire you.

Go to Preparing for Interviews to find out exactly the job interview info you need to find out before your interview. Know the right Job Interview Question to ask during your interview using your research and job interview info. Prepare for success! Go through this essential Interview Checklist to make sure you are properly prepared before your job interview. Return to Preparing for a Job Interview homepage This site is full of useful information to help you prepare for your job interview. Use the search box below to find what you are looking for. Bank Interview Questions Bank interview questions will explore your technical experience and skills as well as key job competencies as they relate to the banking job. Carefully consider these commonly asked banking interview questions and use the answer guidelines to prepare your own winning answers. Why should the bank hire you? Focus on specific experience and training in your career history. Emphasize what qualifies you for this banking job and how you can add value to both the position and the bank. Look at the job requirements such as accuracy, customer care, computer skills, numeracy skills and communication skills. Highlight how you have demonstrated these skills previously. If there are areas of the job function that you do not yet have experience in, then highlight what skills you have that will facilitate learning and performing these tasks. For example your ability to remain calm under pressure and communicate clearly will help you in dealing with customers. Emphasize qualities like loyalty, integrity, confidentiality and commitment. State your technical knowledge and confirm your understanding of the basics of bank products and services. Tell me about a situation where you had to deal with an angry customer. Customer service skills are essential for any frontline banking job. Your example should display good listening skills, the ability to clarify the customer's needs and to respond with patience and empathy. Show how you develop positive customer relationships by trying to meet the customer's expectations and taking responsibility for the customer's satisfaction. Find out more about Customer Service Job Interview questions and answers and be well prepared for any customer service related interview questions. Tell me about a time where you had to use your discretion and tact.

You are often required to display diplomacy and tact with customers in a banking environment. Provide an example of a challenging situation where you had to handle the customer carefully and with discretion. Discuss how you used your sensitivity and communication skills to manage the situation. How do you check your work for accuracy? In asking bank interview questions about your attention to detail and accuracy the interviewer wants to know if you are able to accurately carry out your tasks with close attention to all aspects of your work. Provide specific examples of how you check your outputs for accuracy and completeness and what you do if you find a mistake. View excellent sample answers to interview questions about accuracy and attention to detail at All Interview Questions . Tell me about a time you had to explain a process or situation to a confused customer. How did you approach this? Customer Service means dealing with a variety of people. The ability to adjust to the customer and the situation is an important job requirement. Your example should clearly indicate how you adjusted your communication style to meet the customer's needs. Tell me about a time you felt pressured by conflicting work demands, how did you respond? Staying calm under pressure is a key requirement. Your ability to maintain performance under stress and to use appropriate coping techniques should be demonstrated. Discuss the resources you used to meet the different work demands including prioritizing, planning, scheduling and asking for assistance when appropriate. Tell me about a time you saw a co-worker do something that you didn't think was appropriate. What did you do? Integrity and honesty are core to a banking job. Focus on taking immediate action and using the appropriate resources to deal with the problem. Emphasize your commitment to adhering to company policies and regulations. Your judgment is also under scrutiny here so describe your motivation to take action. How many scheduled days have you missed during the last four months? Bank interview questions will explore your reliability. Be honest about this as it can always be verified with a reference check. Focus on your reliability, punctuality and your willingness to work extra hours if needed. What are the most important qualities for a bank teller job? Bank interview questions like this are asked to explore your understanding of banking job requirements. Focus on technical skills such as numeracy, computer literacy and product and services knowledge. Discuss key job competencies including accuracy, customer service orientation, judgment, integrity,

reliability and the ability to cope under pressure. Point out your strengths as they relate to these qualities. What made you decide to work for this bank? This is your opportunity to shine. Do your homework and research the bank before your interview. Make a list of three or four reasons why this is the right bank for you. Go to Preparing for a Job Interview to help you with this. Get help with Answering Interview Questions about why you want to work for the company or organization. Prepare for Interview Questions and Answers including "Tell me about yourself". Bank interview questions will explore your job related competencies or behaviors. Find out more about how to prepare for Behavioral Interview Questions using these sample answers. Use the Bank Teller Job Description to help understand the job requirements. Bank Teller Sample Resume Prepare some good Job Interview Questions to Ask in your bank interview. Top 10 Interview Questions Job Interview Answers Customer Service Interview Questions Return to Job Interview Guide homepage Know How to Dress for an Interview for a banking job and come across as poised and professional. Customer Service Interview Question & Answer Guide What customer service interview question can you expect when interviewing for a customer service job opportunity? Although the customer service job varies from employer to employer you can anticipate and prepare for likely customer service interview questions. Knowing the knowledge and core competencies (skills and abilities) required for success in customer service work will help you to predict which questions you will be asked. The customer service knowledge requirements will vary depending on the organization, the product or service and the scope of the customer service job. However typical knowledge requirements for a customer service job include: knowledge of relevant computer applications

data entry information processing numeric, oral and written language applications administrative/clerical procedures Customer relationship principles and practices Questions around the knowledge requirements will usually be answered by reviewing your resume or CV as they refer directly to your qualifications and work history. You can prepare for questions that explore your customer service training and your work experience relevant to the specific knowledge requirements listed. Examples include: "Which software applications are you proficient in?" "What products and services have you dealt with?" "How many orders/queries did you deal with on an average day?" The interviewer will focus on the customer service interview question that looks for evidence of the competencies or behaviors needed to succeed in a customer service position. You will be asked to provide specific examples of when you have previously displayed the required competency. You should consider your past experiences, select appropriate examples and plan your response using the following structure: Describe the specific situation or task you were involved in Detail the action and steps you took in the situation Outline the results and outcome of your actions. What happened, what was accomplished, what did you learn? Go through the customer service interview question that explores these core competencies. Use the answer guidelines to help you prepare your own excellent customer service interview answers. Problem Analysis and Problem-solving Key to success in a customer service position is the ability to analyze and assess problems and find workable solutions. "Tell me about a time you had to evaluate a large amount of information to sort out a problem. Talk me through the steps you took." "Tell me about a difficult situation to which you found a simple solution." "Give a specific example of when you had to sort out a complex problem for a dissatisfied customer recently."

Answer Guidelines : Show how you are able to collect and organize information to identify key issues and detect problems. Describe your ability to consider alternatives and find the most appropriate solution considering the facts, your resources and the customer's needs. Customer Service Orientation The interviewer wants to know that you have proven yourself to be both able and willing to provide excellent service to the customer. "Describe a time you had to ask a number of questions and listen carefully to fully understand the customer's query." "Describe a recent situation when you had to handle an angry customer." "How do you define going the extra mile for your customer, give me an example of when you have done this." Answer Guidelines : Show how you develop positive customer relationships by actively listening and making the effort to understand the customer's needs, meeting and exceeding the customer's expectations and taking responsibility for the customer's satisfaction. Accuracy and Attention to Detail A frequently asked customer service interview question will focus on your ability to collect and process information accurately. "Take me through the process you use to check that you have the right details from a customer." "Describe a time that you picked up an error or problem that had been overlooked by others at work." "Tell me about a time that you had a confusing interaction with a customer, how did you clarify things?" Answer Guidelines : Describe your attention to all details of the customer interaction, however small. Show how you clarify the details by asking questions. Describe the steps you take to ensure you have complete information and accurately check your work processes and output. Adaptability Customer service means dealing with a variety of people and demands, the ability to adjust to the situation and the individual is an important job requirement. "Describe a time you had to change your approach to a customer because your initial attempts were unsuccessful." "Tell me about a time you have had to adjust to a new manager who had a different management style to what you were used to."

"Give an example of when you had to deal with a major change in the customer relationship practices in your workplace." Answer Guidelines : Show how you are able to maintain your effectiveness in different situations and when dealing with different people. Describe how you adjusted your approach, your communication style and your behavior to meet different needs and demands. Patience and Stress Tolerance It is difficult to keep calm and patient when dealing with unreasonable and demanding customers, however this is essential behavior when providing efficient customer service! This will be assessed with a customer service interview question such as: "Tell me about a recent situation with a customer that really tested your patience." "Tell me about a time you experienced conflicting work demands, how did you respond?" "Describe a situation when you had to deal with an unpleasant customer who was making unreasonable demands." Answer Guidelines : Show you are able to maintain a positive attitude and a high performance standard under pressure and in the face of challenges. Describe how you use appropriate coping techniques to keep calm under provocation and stress and that you are able to show patience when faced with a difficult customer. Your ability to communicate effectively with customers and your ability to actively listen will be assessed as you interact with the interviewer. Make sure you speak clearly and concisely, choosing your words with care and using correct grammar. Listen closely to questions and ask for further clarification if you do not properly understand something. For comprehensive advice on how to communicate effectively in the job interview go to the Communication Tips for Job Interviews . Prepare for the customer service interview question that explores your motivation to be in a customer service job. These include: "What do you see as being the greatest challenges today in the customer service industry?" "What do you regard as being the most positive aspects of dealing with customers?" Find out how to answer other frequently asked customer service interview questions including What is good customer service? View sample interview answers to the common customer service interview question How do you measure good customer service? Detailed help with answering questions about The Definition of Customer Service

Enjoy an advantage over the other candidates for the customer service job opportunity with the help provided at About a Customer Service Job Interview. Use these Sales Interview Answers to help you prepare for sales-related interview questions you are likely to face in a customer service job interview. For a comprehensive guide to answering competency based or behavioral questions go to The Behavioral Interview and review the sample questions and answers. Interviewers will also use some general questions to assess the candidate. Review standard interview questions with sample answers by clicking on these common Job Interview Questions Call Center Interview Questions and Answers Help Desk Interview Questions Retail Job Interview Questions Marketing Interview Questions Make the right impression by dressing properly for your interview. Get help with selecting appropriate interview attire with this guide on How to Dress for an Interview Make sure you have a couple of good questions to ask in your interview. Use this guide to The Right Job Interview Question to Ask to be well prepared. Knowing how to close the interview is key in a customer service job interview. Use this excellent Job Interview Advice on how to close an interview. Job Interview Tips Stand out in your customer service interview by being thoroughly prepared to face any customer service interview question and be confident of your success! Customer Service Job Description Customer Service Resume Template Customer Service Cover Letter Return to the Job Interview Guide homepage Get the customer service job you want! David Crocker VP - Corporate Recruiter - Leader Staffing at Bank of America Kansas City, Missouri Area Banking

Join LinkedIn and access David Crocker’s full profile. As a LinkedIn member, you'll join 175 million other professionals who are sharing connections, ideas, and opportunities. And it's free! You'll also be able to: See who you and David Crocker know in common Get introduced to David Crocker Contact David Crocker directly View Full Profile David Crocker's Overview Current VP - Corporate Recruiter - Leader Staffing at Bank of America Past VP, Banking Center Manager II - Independence MO at Bank of America VP, Regional Training Manager at Bank of America Education Webster University Connections 200 connections Websites Company Website David Crocker's Experience VP - Corporate Recruiter - Leader Staffing Bank of America Public Company; 10,001+ employees; BAC; Banking industry September 2004 – Present (8 years 5 months) Recruit for the Consumer Bank where I hire Banking Center Managers, Assistant Managers, Personal Bankers and Small Business Specialists. I currently support Kansas City, St. Louis and Southern Missouri. I previously recruited for the states of Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and the regions of Central Missouri, Central Texas, Mississippi River Valley (Southern Illinois and Western Tennessee- Memphis) and Lee Collier County Florida. VP, Banking Center Manager II - Independence MO Bank of America Public Company; 10,001+ employees; BAC; Banking industry July 2001 – September 2004 (3 years 3 months) Banking Center Manager responsible for the overall sales and customer service of the banking center. Coached and developed direct reports to improve thier sales and customer service while helping them prepare for future advancement opportunities. VP, Regional Training Manager Bank of America Public Company; 10,001+ employees; BAC; Banking industry April 2001 – July 2002 (1 year 4 months)

Focused the training of existing and new hires to the Consumer Bank. Managed a team of 7 trainers that completed programs from Teller to Leadership training for Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Kansas City and all of Missouri but St. Louis. David Crocker's Education Webster University MA, Dual Degree Human Resources Development and Management 1992 – 1995 Activities and Societies: Active member of Woods Chapel United Methodist Church Job Interview Follow Up Guide Conduct your job interview follow up with enthusiasm, determination and in a professional manner and provide the interviewer with further evidence of your suitability. View the follow-up as an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment and expertise and set yourself apart from the other candidates! You have sent your Interview Thank You Letter and now comes the tough part - waiting for feedback! What happens between the first job interview and making the hiring decision will vary from company to company and position to position. When Closing the Interview you probably asked for information about what happens next in the interview process. How do you conduct yourself in terms of this process? When and how should you follow up to keep the focus on your application but to avoid becoming annoying. Use one of these free resources to follow up immediately after the interview. Interview Thank You E-mail Interview Thank You Letter Informal Interview Thank You Letter Interview Follow Up Letter If you know approximately the time frame for the hiring decision you will have a better idea of how soon to follow up. For example, if the company have told you they expect to make the decision within the next week you will need to follow up after a couple of days. If it is a longer time frame or they have not given you a specific time frame it is usually best to wait about a week before making contact. Whatever the time frame, you should not wait for the interviewer to contact you. You need to make contact to know what is happening and to keep yourself in contention for the job. Use this initial job interview follow up to highlight your enthusiasm for the position and to get more details about the status of the hiring decision.

During the follow up call you can thank them again for the interview and restate your interest in the position. Find out if you are still under consideration for the position. Ask if there is any further information they need. Find out when you can expect a final decision. You want to show the interviewer that you are interested in the job but avoid sounding desperate. Be polite and professional. "I just wanted to thank you again for your time on Monday and to let you know that I am really interested in this opportunity. I was hoping that you would be able to give me an update on my application...." You can also use e-mail to follow up after the interview and send an e-mail along these lines. Good Morning John, Thank you again for the time you spent with me on Thursday. I enjoyed the interview and would like to restate my interest in this opportunity. Please call or e-mail me with an update on the job opportunity at your earliest convenience. Sincerely, Joe Jackson The company may have specified at the job interview that they would prefer it if you did not contact them but to wait for them to come back to you. At the interview close ask when you can expect to hear from them. Wait a couple of days beyond the date given and if you have not been contacted follow up with a call or e-mail to the interviewer or even human resources. Politely ask about the status of your application. This courteous job interview follow up inquiry should prompt some feedback about the position. If there is still no information, ask for a specific date to phone back to get feedback. Job Interview Follow Up E-Mail Dear Mr Jones The job we discussed last week is both an interesting and challenging opportunity. I have been reviewing the job requirements and I am enthusiastic about my ability to perform successfully in the position. I look forward to hearing from you with regard to the status of my application. Please contact me should you require any additional information. Sincerely Susan Green susang@weblink.net

How to write a Follow Up Letter After Interview You can find expert help on how to close the interview at Job Interview Advice Second Interview Tips Second Interview Thank You Know how to use your Job References Find out about the Employment Background Check Know what to expect in Pre-employment Testing Find out how to follow up after a panel interview at Panel Interview Tips After a Job Interview Interview Follow Up Tips Following up after sending your resume is also important. Use this sample Follow Up on Resume Email to find out the status of your job application. A successful candidate does not sit back and wait once the interview is over. Proactive job interview follow up demonstrates both your commitment and your professionalism to the company and gives you the edge over the other candidates. Sample Interview Thank You Letter The sample interview thank you letter shown here is for a formal situation. The style of the thank you letters you send will depend on the tone of your job interview. A formal interviewer and company will demand an interview thank you note that is more conservative and serious. Sample Interview Thank You Letter 1 Candidate's Name Your Address Your City, State, Zip Code Your Phone Number Your Email The date

Mr Brian Adams Human Resources Director Solar Systems Inc. City, State, Zip Code Dear Mr Adams I want to thank you very much for interviewing me yesterday for the Senior Accountant position. I enjoyed meeting you and learning more about the position and Solar Systems Inc. The interview strengthened my interest in the position and in working for such a dynamic company. I believe my qualifications and experience, particularly my familiarity with your current systems, fit well with the job requirements and I'm certain I could make a positive contribution to the company. In addition my strong analytical skills would benefit the new direction the company is taking. I would like to reiterate my enthusiasm for the position, it is just the sort of opportunity I have been looking for. I look forward to hearing from you once the final decisions are made regarding this position. Please feel free to call me at the telephone number listed above if I can provide you with any additional information. Again, thank you for the interview and for your interest Sincerely, Candidate's signature Typed name For a less formal Interview Thank You Letter go here. Interview Follow Up Tips Interview Follow Up Letter Sample Interview Thank You Letter 2 Candidate's Name Your Address Your City, State, Zip Code Your Phone Number Your Email The date Mrs Jane Jackson Marketing Manager Ballory Investments City, State, Zip Code

Dear Mrs Jackson Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the Executive Assistant position this morning. The interview gave me a thorough understanding of what is required by the the company and the position. I feel confident that my strong administrative and customer service skills will benefit this position. I have extensive experience in all of the computer software packages that you use and I am sure that my efficiency will ensure your deadlines are met. I enjoyed meeting the other staff and would consider it a privilege to be part of such a dedicated team. As agreed, I will contact you by Tuesday of next week to get feedback. Again thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Candidate's signature Typed name Interview Follow Up Email Second Interview Thank You How to Write Interview Thank You Letters Interview Thank You - brief and informal Interview Thank You Letter - for an internship Send an interview thank you letter as soon as possible after the job interview and stand out as the right job candidate Get help with your Job Interview Follow Up What to expect from Pre-employment Testing All you need to know about Job References Need help with deciding whether to take the job? Go to Accepting a Job Offer to find out how to evaluate the job offer and make the right job offer decision. Always send a well written thank you letter after the interview and make the right impression. Return to Interview Thank You Letters homepage Essential Tips on

Job Interview Preparation Original article "Essential Tips on Job Interview Preparation" by the authors of best-job-interview.com Summary There are many important tips on job interview preparation. However these three tips are probably some of the easiest to get right but are often overlooked when preparing for your job search and job interviews. Not paying attention to these personal details can ruin your chances of getting the job offer. Your Email Address Review your email address. Does it sound professional and give the right image? Email addresses like hotgirl@... or potatohead@... are likely to make a negative impression on any prospective employer. Details like this need to be looked at before you begin your job search and job interview process. Although these sort of casual and fun addresses are acceptable in a social context they are sending the wrong message in a formal work context. One way of avoiding mixing business with pleasure is to create an email address that you use only for resumes, job applications and job interviews. You can set up a new business-like email address with one of the numerous sites that offer free email accounts. Appropriate suggestions for such an address include simply using your name johnsmith@.. or your initials and an indication of your area of expertise such as jkdsales@.... Your Voicemail Message Here is one of those critical tips on job interview and job search preparation. Check your current voicemail message and be sure it is what you would like a potential employer to hear. Does it sound sufficiently mature and professional? Wacky and funny are inappropriate and should be changed before you begin your job search! Begin with "hello" and then clearly state your first and last name and your number. Highlight that the call is important and that a message will be returned as soon as possible. End with a thank you. Impress with a clear, concise message that portrays a professional image. Follow this up by checking your messages frequently and getting back to callers as soon as possible. Your Social Networking Profile Employers often consider a social networking profile as a valuable background check on a job candidate. You may consider this an invasion of your privacy but that will not prevent it from happening - the fact is that our social media information is not only accessible to people who know us and understand its context. Fair or not, employers are using social networks to research job candidates and one of the most important tips on job interview and your job search preparation is to be aware of this and presume that anyone is able to read what you post online. People can be very casual about their social network profiles - spelling and grammar are not given much attention and photos are often uploaded for their amusement value! Stories about drinking and inappropriate behavior, bad mouthing previous employers, discriminatory remarks about religion, race or gender and inappropriate photographs are major areas of concern for potential employers.

Check how professional your social network image is and remove anything that will impact negatively on your employment chances. The same applies to your blog if you have one. Review what you are writing online and check that there isn't anything you wouldn't want a prospective employer to read. An employer can "Google" you and find anything you have written or has been written about you. Check your Google profile. These tips on job interview preparation show that every detail needs to be considered when you are in the hiring process. All personal aspects that you present to a possible employer should reflect a professional image. Find more preparation Tips for Interviews to impress the interviewer as the right job candidate. Prepare your answers for Job Interview Questions using these answer guidelines. Prepare good questions to ask the interviewer. Use the list of sample questions at The Job Interview Question to Ask to help you. Return to Job Interview Tips homepage Please Note - This article is owned by Best-job-interview.com and permission to republish it must be granted by the authors in writing. Go to Interview Articles homepage to view the latest articles covering job search and interviewing skills. Best Resources for Preparing for Job Interviews Original article by the authors of best-job-interview.com Summary Properly preparing for job interviews is the crucial difference between job interview success and failure. A prospective employer will know if you have spent sufficient time finding out about the company before the interview. You can use the information you find out to prepare your answers to Common Job Interview Questions. Finding out about the company Doing a quick Google search is a start but the successful job candidate needs to go beyond that. The questions you ask in the interview and the way you respond to the interview questions you are asked will reflect your knowledge of the organization, the industry and the job. This article shows you what information you need to gather before your interview and the best resources to use for your background research.

The obvious starting point is the company website. If you don't have the web address you can try Googling http://www.companyname.com to get to the company homepage. Use the website to find out the following: a brief history of the organization organizational structure, subsidiaries, branches, holding company major competitors all products and services company culture including mission and vision most recent news and happenings (read through the latest media releases and visit the company's Facebook page) You need to go beyond the company website to be fully informed when preparing for job interviews. For example: Hoovers.com is a well respected service that provides detailed information on over 50 000 public and private companies. Corporateinformation.com provides information on both US and international companies including company profiles, earnings details and analyst reports. Business.com provides news and research for a large number of public and private companies in a variety of industries. Searchsystems.net is a Public Records Directory that provides free information on a private company Yahoo Finance provides a financial profile of companies by bringing together resources such as Businesswire, Newswire and Market Guide The next step is to read newspaper articles on the company. Your local newspaper is a good starting point. You can go to www.newspaperlinks.com which provides links to online newspapers throughout the world. Search for your local newspaper and research back articles on the company. Google News also provides company news and updates. Bizjournals.com provides access to over 40 business journals where you can search for periodical articles that provide valuable information on the organization. Preparing for job interviews includes updating yourself on the industry in which the company operates. Find out: the current industry trends the leading companies in the industry new developments in the industry www.corporateinformation.com provides links to resources for over 30 industrial sectors. Yahoo!Industry is also a valuable source of industry news. Use your information to tailor your interview answers to be as relevant to the company as possible. Highlight areas that you can add value to. Ask insightful questions that demonstrate your hard work in

preparing for the interview. Use this list of Good Interview Questions to ask in your interview to help with this. Have you got everything you need for the job interview? Go to the comprehensive and practical Interview Checklist to help you. Go to Preparing for Interviews to find out how to use company information in the interview. The right Job Interview Question to ask in your job interview. Prepare for the Top 10 Interview Questions using these interview answer guidelines. Return to Interview Articles homepage Please note - This article is owned by by Best-job-interview.com and permission to republish it must be granted by the authors in writing.