These tips summarize the best practices and experiences that thousands of books and thousands of pages can tell you when it comes to preparing to nail a job interview. Thinking about the 80/20 rule, interviewing is really no different - 80% of the work and effort to interviewing success actually comes BEFORE you ever get on the phone or step foot into their office. Take a few minutes to review these guidelines and feel free to suggest other ideas to help fellow job-seekers succeed.

1. PROPER
PREPARATION
PREVENTS
PROFESSIONAL
PREDICAMENTS
Prepare to be Hired!
Steve Winkel
A Presentation for
College2Corporate Marketplace
March 2014
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2. You’ve got the interview…. Now what?
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3. Research
WHY?
WHERE?
• Prepare answers to questions
• Company Site
• Prepare questions to answer
• LinkedIn
• Good fit?
• Hoovers (D+B)
• Indications of culture/values
• Google + GoogleNews
— Google Alerts
• Who will you be meeting?
• GlassDoor (BEWARE!!)
— Interviewers Edge
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4. Prepare Relevant Tales of Success
SKILLS
EXPERIENCES
SUCCESSES
OBSTACLES
YOUR
QUESTIONS!!
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5. Prepare Answers to the Obvious Questions
• What interests you about this
job?
• Why do you want this job?
• What applicable attributes /
experience do you have?
• What can you do for this
company? Team?
• Why do you want to work here?
• Why are you looking for a job?
• What challenges are you looking
for in a positions?
• Are you willing to travel?
• What is good customer
service?
• What are you looking for in
your next job?
• What is important to you?
• What are your (career) goals in
the next five years?
• What will you do if you don’t
get this position?
And the list goes on…
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6. Prepare by Practicing
WHAT?
HOW?
• Your answers
• Use a friend
• Your hand shake
• Use a mentor
• Your body language
• Use a mirror
VERBAL
+
VOCAL
+
VISUAL
• Use C2C!!!
• Get feedback
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7. “You never get a second chance to make a
great first impression. Within a few seconds,
with just a glance, people have judged your
social and economic level, your level of
education, and even your level of success.
Within minutes, they've also decided your
levels of intelligence, trustworthiness,
competence, friendliness and confidence.”
Prepare Your Outfit
• Stick with a formal look
Olivia Fox Cabane
Expert in Charisma
• You can’t overdress
— 80/20 Rule
• Stay away from:
— Stinky things:
• Showcase your personality
— Accessories, Colors, Socks
— Its still important to be
you!
>
>
—
Novelty…
>
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Perfume
Hand lotion
Show your personality, but
don’t draw attention away
from experience, skills,
personality

8. Prepare What You’ll Bring with You
YAY!
NAY!
•
•
•
•
•
• Cell Phone
• Cup of Coffee
• Gum
Names of Contacts
Portfolio / Pad
Two Pens. Two. Not One. Two.
Copies of Resume
List of References
• Frankly, anything other than
what’s on the other side of the
slide, and your wallet/purse.
• Key answers you may want to
reference.
• Questions you plan to ask the
interviewers.
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9. Prepare to Arrive
• GPS is not always right!!
• Make a practice run
• Arrive 10-15 minutes early
• Be very nice to the
receptionist/greeter
• Go to the bathroom
— Seriously!!
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10. Why Focus on Preparing?
By failing to prepare, you are
preparing to fail.
Benjamin Franklin
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