SEVEN ESSENTIAL STEPS TO PREPARE FOR AN INTERVIEW

  1. Spend a few hours learning everything you can about the company—from as many sources as you can. Talk to people who have worked at the company if possible, or at least knows someone that has worked there.  Read current news releases (www.finance.yahoo.com is a great source), and spend some time on Google. Often, candidates just look at the information a company is pushing out via the website and social media, but fail to look more in depth at what others are saying. By doing so, you’ll get the larger picture about the company (along with any negative press).
  2. Get a sense of “who” the company is and how to embody a similar personality during your interview. Start by reading the company’s blog and Facebook page—the tone of the company’s content on these sites will speak volumes.
  3. Twitter can also be an excellent resource because you can see what the company and its employees are talking about. Are they sarcastically bantering with each other? Feel free to throw a few jokes in as you’re meeting with people. Are they tweeting up a storm about an event or product launch? Use it as a conversation starter.
  4. No matter what role you’re interviewing for—Financial Analyst, Senior Accountant, Tax Manager, etc.—you should always be familiar with the product or service the company produces or provides. If possible, use the product before the interview.  It can help you come up with great questions that no one else will ask.
  5. Make sure you reach out through your network to find current and previous employees you can talk to, too—they’re often your best source of intel on what it’s really like to work at a company.
  6. Before your interview, get a list of the people you’re meeting with from Mirus. Ask Mirus about them so you can learn about them—including what type of behavior might intrigue them or turn them off. Finally, prep some questions that are specific to each interviewer: Ask for details about her focus at the firm, discuss current events on his specialty, or bring up a common interest you know he or she has outside the office.
  7. Different companies use different types of interviews, so ask what you’ll be faced with. For example, some companies will ask case questions or behavioral questions while others will give a standard set of typical interview and leadership questions. Asking the Mirus about the interview format ahead of time is totally fair game. And once you know, investing time to become familiar with this style can make a huge difference.

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