How To Prepare for an Interview
Written By: Les Schafer
By no means is this an end all be all list on what you should focus on as you prepare for an interview. What it is, though, is a list of areas that I think will be a good foundational focus in helping you prepare for success. 
Job Description:
- Read the job description thoroughly to get a feel for what is required.
- Make a list of things you feel you have the skills for and make sure to make a list of skills you feel you would have to learn.
- You’ll want to make sure that one of your outcomes for this call is that you have a better understanding of this job. That you know how big the team is, who you would be reporting to and how will success for this job be measured and what are the pathways for growth.
Company Research:
- Find out about the company’s capabilities, competitors, locations, strategy, mission, vision and values.
- Sources for this information included company website; news articles about company; YouTube or Vimeo videos; and if the company is public, make sure to read the latest investor news, as well as the annual report.
- You would be surprised how many hiring managers tell me that people didn’t know anything about the company.
Interviewee / Interviewees / Hiring Manager Research:
- Research the person who is the hiring manager or who will be interviewing you.
- Sources for this information will be LinkedIn and Google.
- In addition to making sure you answer their questions in detail, you’ll also want to make sure you understand them. What do they most like about what they do, and why do they like work at the company? How would they describe the culture?
Your intention is to leave the hiring manager with a positive experience of you. One that would have them provide feedback which would include words such as “well prepared”, “asked good questions”, “gave detailed and thoughtful responses” and of course “is technically sound and seems like they could do this job”.
Good luck, and happy interviewing!