In-Person Interviewing

Interviewing for a job might make you nervous but it also might make you the newest employee of an excellent company so it is important. We have turned to our industry professionals to find out some of their best advice for anyone preparing for an in-person interview. Here's what they had to say. (upbeat music) Number one, research the company. You need to study the company you're interviewing for prior to you arriving there 'cause we're gonna ask you questions. What do you know about this business? And if you don't know everything, that's fine. But you need to show that you've done your due diligence and you've researched. They want your skills but what can you really bring to the organization? What makes you better than the next person? And if you have no idea about what they do, that's a problem because you're not gonna be fully engaged when you come on board. And of course there's the learning curve and understanding what happens within the organization but doing some of the research about the group, about maybe some of the people that work there. I like LinkedIn. You can show where people are potentially linked with other people and you can ask them like, "Oh, do you know so-and-so or anybody that works there? "What do you know about it?" And just fully do your research about the organization.

Billy: Number two, analyze the job description.

The main way I prepare for an interview is I sit down with the job description and kind of go through what I think they would ask me based on what they're looking for. You know and I make sure I kind of have some speaking points that I really wanna get across to them based on what my background is. You know, I think the biggest mistake you can make is really not being prepared for what the job entails. You know, anytime you get in front of someone for an interview, you want to know what you're actually interviewing for, what your objectives are in that interview.

Billy: Number three, articulate your why.

You have to speak, not in terms of what you want but in terms of what you can do for that particular company or organization, what skills, talents, background, abilities can you put on the table that will help to ensure that organization's success? Something that people should always think about before they go into it is why do you want this job? And we're looking for someone, I'm looking for someone, who doesn't just want a paycheck. I want someone who wants to be in that role.

Billy: Number four, have the right attitude.

Eye contact and confidence and respect. Those are really the biggest things. I think you can come in nervous and I'll get that and I'll empathize with that. I think I come into the same setting and I might have a little bit of nervousness too or at least some apprehension. But I think if you're respectful, if you're on time, if you carry yourself with confidence and at least with some dignity and respect, I think that's recognized right out of the gate. You know, we definitely like individuals that are self-assured and are confident in their abilities and their past experiences but if you come in with and then, you know, entitlement, elitist type of aura about you, that's not gonna work. In an environment especially like GE, we're looking for individuals that are those team players that are confident about their work and smart but can just execute and execute while treating people the right way along the way.

Billy: And number five, be yourself.

You know, be honest and be yourself. It's, you know, I think the best interviewers are more interested in determining who you are as a person. If they're taking time to speak with you and meet with you, they've already sort of reviewed your academic credentials, your professional experience, and have a general sense that you might be somebody that they're interested in. So what they're trying to do is really get an assessment from you that they can't get on paper about whether or not you're somebody who can think on their feet and is talented and will fit and work with a team. And so just be yourself. Show some character. Show some personality, if you will. I think you have to be yourself. You just have to enjoy the opportunity to be in front of somebody and talk to 'em about what you really love to do. And hopefully that interview that you're applying for is something that you really wanna do. And you just tell the employer why you think your experience to do that or why you think you're gonna succeed for them. And finally, here are some additional tips to make your in-person interview a success. Be on time. Dress professionally. Bring your resume and some of your own questions. Have specific tangible results to speak on. And make sure you send a thank you afterwards. (upbeat music)