There are important tasks potential job candidates need to complete if they want to eventually win that offer, writes Ochuko Dasimaka, CEO of Career Heights Consulting, and a senior human resources executive and resume and career coach, for Forbes Human Resources Council.
Having enough copies of your resume, being dressed appropriately and coming in early to the interview are givens, but “most importantly, be respectful to everyone you encounter at the location of your interview—you never know the relationship between who you encounter and the hiring manager,” Dasimaka writes.
Anticipate questions ahead of time, including being asked to share information about yourself and your strengths/weaknesses. But, also be ready with questions for the company to demonstrate your interest in winning the job. For example, research the recruiter and hiring manager, via LinkedIn and recommendations they received and shared about others.
“This exercise helps you identify areas of your professional history and values that might be similar to that of your interviewer,” Dasimaka writes. “Your research may also help you craft an interesting question for your interviewer about their background which you can ask during the interview.”