I love the philosophy behind this post on Ask The Headhunter. It truly is the best interviewing advice ever. It is written for employers, kinda, yet clearly explains the logic behind what the employer is or should be thinking!
What it says is "Think of the interview as your first day of work!" And then goes on to say:
In the interview, you should expect (or hope) to hear the most compelling questionthat any candidate can ask: “Would you like me to show how your company will profit from hiring me?” (Yah, it’s no surprise. It’s the same question you’re asking, if you behave like your own job matters, and that hiring great people matters is a manager’s #1 job.) The candidate should be prepared to do the job in the interview. That means walking up to the whiteboard and outlining the steps he or she would take to solve your company’s problems. The numbers might be off, but the candidate should be able to defend them intelligently.
In order for you to be able to show how you would solve the company's problems, you will have to learn what they are. They won't have them listed on their website, which mean you will have to talk to a lot of people and do some research.
If you really think about it, many companies have the same sort of problems: doing more with less, making money, saving money, improving customer service, etc. So it doesn't matter what kind of job you do, you will always be fixing a problem, otherwise the company wouldn't be hiring.
Before your next interview, prepare for it as if you were starting your first day of work, sleeves rolled up and ready to go!
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
