The Interview Cheat Sheet
- SpeakEasy
- Mar 16, 2016
- 2 min read
We all know the interview is what will make, or break you landing that next job, leadership position, or award. No pressure. Last month, Allison Grainger, SpeakEasy founder, broke down the interview on a podcast episode for AgGrad.
She created an interview cheat sheet to help take some of the pressure off before your next interview. Here are the three biggest interview mistakes and how to avoid them.
1 | Not Knowing the Company
Start by researching as much as possible about the company via their online social media accounts, their website, and any published company materials. Know their mission statement, their values, how they were founded, what their major divisions are, etc. Once you have exhausted every online resource about the company, research the industry, as a whole. What are the major industry trends? Who are their competitors? What might they be struggling with? Finally, start connecting with the people who know the company. Set up informational interviews. Connect via LinkedIn. Talk with as many people as possible that are on the inside of that industry or that organization.
2 | Not Knowing Yourself
You owe it to yourself to have a good understanding of what drives you, what environments you thrive in, and what you’re looking for. This will help you tie your own experiences to the position you’re applying for, and it will also help you make sure you’re choosing the right opportunity. Ask the tough questions: what are your talents, what are your values, what are your skills? Do these things align with what you’re applying for? If they do, you have even more to talk about!
3 | Not Knowing How to Practice
Not sure of the interview style you’ll be having? Then, ask! Make sure that you’re gearing your practice to the style of interview you’ll encounter. Take a list of the qualities listed in the job posting and turn them into questions. Have someone critique your answers until you get it right. Even great interviewers need to stay sharp, because every interview is different.
