Much of the information on this blog is designed to help you make the most of your job and start getting noticed by your superiors, but we haven’t spent much time talking about what to do when an opportunity finally comes your way. Over the next few posts, we’ll talk about ways to ensure that once you’ve finally got the big interview that you do everything in your power to get that raise or promotion.
I won't cover it at length again, but the first step to securing your next career move is making sure you have as professional an appearance as possible. I’ve written before about my personal pet peeves when it comes to people showing up for interviews unshaven or in casual dress. Of course, everyone has differing opinions on how to look your best for an interview, but there is little debate on how to dress for an interview.
The next step before you walk in for the interview? Do your research. When handing out raises or promotions, managers look for someone who can be self-sufficient and trusted in their role. Taking the time to learn all about the role you’re applying for shows that you are independently motivated and don’t need to be told when to seek out new information.
Some of the worst interviews I’ve ever sat through as a manager have been when the applicant came in and asked me to describe the job to them. The interview is your time to sell yourself by showing how much you already know and expounding on what you would do once the role is yours. Someone who comes off as unsure of exactly what they are even interviewing for will be checked off of the list within the first two minutes.
Answering the following questions before you interview will help you make sure that you’ve done your homework and are walking into the interview with the right information:
- What are the job requirements of the role? - If the job is open because the previous person in the role is moving on or has been promoted, ask that person for a few minutes to educate you on what the job is all about. If the job is newly created or the person in the role has left the company, speak with the people that you would work with/for in the new job and ask them what they envision for the position.
- What has/hasn’t worked in the past? – Talk to the people that interact with this position and find out about what they want to ensure continues and what they’d love to change. Understanding where improvements could be made will go a long way towards selling you in the interview.
- What can I learn about similar jobs elsewhere in the industry? - Look through similar job postings both in other departments and other companies. These can contain great information about what the daily job is about. Seek out people in similar positions (social networking sites are great for this) and get some insider info from outside the box. Knowing not only what your company expects, but also what others are doing will prove valuable during the interview process.
- What skills would I need to learn or improve in this new role? – When someone walks into an interview, knows their own weaknesses and already has a plan for how to fix them it can remove a huge question mark for the manager. It is always a good idea to enroll in a class or be reading a book that pertains to the next job you want. That way, you’ll be more prepared when your interview opportunity arises.
These questions should put you on the right path to gathering the data for your big interview. Next time we’ll talk about what you should bring with you to the meeting.
Comments