So you have sent out hundreds of resumes, spent quite a sum of money on envelopes, special paper and stamps. And one of your resumes to that one special company was chosen. JACK POT!!! You are in. Now what?

Most people believe that sending out the resumes, changing the font, and selling yourself on paper is the hardest part to securing that dream job. But no, the hard part is now approaching, how you are going to spend that new salary comes a little later. As the old cub scouts motto says “be prepared” and this is even more important when it comes to interviews.

It’s important to remember that although your resume was chosen, so too were others, thus in this competitive environment it’s imperative that you stand out. Now let’s look at those little mental and physical strategies that give any candidate that edge over the competition:

MENTAL PREPARATION:

Your interview is a couple of days away, you are anxious and nervous, you want to do well and the competition is stiff, what should you do? Firstly, you should not second guess yourself or be negative. Your resume was chosen and now you are on to that next step, the face to face meeting. Conditioning oneself with doubt is a sure fire way to ensure a negative outcome. To ensure a positive outcome you should be confident, focused, relaxed and most importantly, prepared. So on to the preparation checklist:

Know the company/research the position /do your homework: Yes, we always thought that once we started working, homework would no longer be in our vocabulary. Wrong. Doing one’s homework is essential at this stage. Research the company, their brand, vision and mission, recent challenges and successes. Most if not all potential employers would expect any candidate to display some understanding or knowledge of their business, its size, its products and services and the industry in which it operates. In addition the reviewing the company’s official website, reading of its annual reports if they are available, knowing the major players within the company and having an awareness of the company’s competitors would be of great value. Whilst memorizing this information is not the prime focus of this exercise, it’s the ability to articulate the information within the context of the interview that will be your prime objective.

As we continue, it’s important that you know what job you are applying for within any company. It sounds obvious and a little trivial, but how much do you know about the duties of a Communication Assistant in a Public Relations firm or what does a Systems Engineer really do on a day to day basis. Your ability to explain how your qualifications, skills and experiences will combine to add value to the company and its productivity would be your challenge. So here are some questions to ask yourself as you prepare:

• What do I know about this type of work and the industry it is involved in
• What attracts me to this type of work i.e. the deadlines, the autonomy, the daily challenges
• Do I have the relevant work experience, if not, what am I willing to do to gain such experience

Prepare your own questions:

Whilst your potential employer may already have a series of questions they have fine tuned on many a candidate, it’s your questions to your future employer that would make you stand out. It is always advisable to prepare two or three questions that show your genuine knowledge and interest in the company. Your suggested questions should show your willingness to grow with the company and highlight your desire to take on responsibility when called upon by your prospective employer. Most importantly be sure to avoid questions related to salary and other benefits and most importantly, may I dare say, vacation entitlements. All these benefits would eventually be revealed when and should the company make you that official offer of employment.

Sell yourself: At the end of the day the interview is all about YOU, this is no time to be shy or humble. It is important to review your resume and remind yourself of the messages you have already sent to your potential employer. It is always advisable to highlight those competencies and attributes best suited for the position and give examples of your attainment of such characteristics. You should also prepare to note your weaknesses and your attempt to make them strengthens. Remember this is your opportunity to give your potential employer that one last look at why you are the ultimate choice for their company.  Here are some excellent questions to keep in mind:

• Why do I want this position or why am I the best candidate
• What are my strengthens and weaknesses and what have I done in the last year to make my weaknesses a strength.
• What are my future ambitions and how do I see this position aiding in its future attainment.