Job interview is a stage for you to show off yourself and get the job you want. Unfortunately, many candidates fail to use this opportunity.
Simple google search on interview preparation will tell you to do the following:
– To do your research about the organization, its projects, products and recent news.
– To analyze the role: fully understand the job description, prepare questions for clarity, provide an example of similar experiences,
– To prepare your questions about the team or department, organization’s goals and values.
All these seems to be an obvious feature to prepare. However, when conducting an interview with a potential candidate, I was surprised to see how many actually skip these steps. Most candidates skim through the vacancy ad without further research. It was obvious from the basic questions candidates ask. Some candidates even went on to request the interview team, to tell them about the organization and the project. Interview time is very limited. Potential employers would like to get as much information about you as possible and make a decision if you are suitable for the job. Nobody has time to inform you about the basics. Hence, it is better to do your homework, do the research, at least go to the organization’s website and social media.
This, however, doesn’t mean you can’t ask any questions. In fact, you should ask questions. Asking a question, somehow refrained in Mongolian culture. From childhood we were raised to hold our opinions against adults, to be respectful and polite to them. Because of our culture, during the seminars and meetings, especially where most of the participants are strangers to each other, people ask minimal questions. Similar trend is evident at the interview. Towards the end of the interview, when the interview team asks “if there are any questions you would like to ask?”, most candidates respond “no”. Those who ask questions to clarify the job description or the organization’s long-term goal shows understanding and genuine interest in that position. Consequently, those stands out.
During the preparation, if no question pops up to your mind, imagine that you are actually hired and working in that position. You start your job, you’re doing the tasks described in the job description, step by step. Imagine daily tasks and then long term, one year, two years… Questions will start emerge. Some questions might seem obvious or insignificant to you, but it will show how detailed you have thought about the position. In the end, there is no stupid question.
There are many other ways to prepare for a job interview. One example would be watching a TV show, a useful one. The other day I have watched TV show on Central TV Mongolia – “the Interview” it’s called. I highly recommend this show to the new job seekers, especially those who don’t have any experience with an interview. In this show, actual organizations conduct an interview with potential candidates. The episode I have watched was with the MCS Coca Cola. You can learn various things from this show, including:
– have a glimpse to the management team, including the CEO of the organization,
– the questions they ask,
– technical exams they take,
– how to present yourself, including the outfit,
– analyze the answers that candidates give, and think about the responses you would give,
– analyze the body languages both the interview team’s and candidates’ side, when does they feel relaxed, when not.
– impression that candidates left and which ones are selected at the end.
Another great way to prepare yourself for a job interview is using an AI. The Lambda Global has Skills application to help the job seekers to enhance their relevant skills. From Skills you can go to the Career advice section, where it has an AI interview question generator. You should simply register as a talent to the Lambda Global. Then, upload your CV and click on the job position you would like to apply. You can select the language of the interview. Based on your CV and the job description AI will generate the potential questions with the possible answers. These questions will help you identify the matching skills that you have failed to recognize. Especially if you have rich experience in various organizations. AI is great at capturing even the little details you have mentioned in your CV. It not only provides questions, but also an opinion if your skills, at least the ones you have mentioned in your CV, matches the job description. It is the most important question that employers try to answer during the interview.
The last, but perhaps the most important preparation would be a question to ask from yourself. Why do I want this position? Why do I want to work in this organization? The real passion radiates. Poor preparation is a sign of low interest in that job. Therefore, prepare yourselves well for the job you really want.
