Preparing for Interviews
“If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.”
Preparation is an interesting test, and not to be overlooked in an interview process. Poorly prepared candidates are unimpressive to employers!
If you’re a technology-savvy individual, you should be using online sites such as www.linkedin.com to build an online presence as an individual yet also to assist in preparation prior to interviews. It is a business networking tool which can be very helpful prior to interviews for researching.
We always recommend that graduates are reading business publications as much as possible in order to gain some base understanding about the business arena and what is happening within certain industries. BRW Magazine is a great, easy read and perfect for any recent graduate to gain some commercial insight.
Prior to an interview, it is natural that you will look on a company website and conduct some basic Google searches. Please don’t stop there. Think about what you’re doing with that information. Don’t simply assume that in reading it, you are absorbing it. Write notes about the business, the market, any competitors, the clients and any key personnel you can find. Please make notes and ensure they are with you in the face to face interview.
Outside of internet searching, we would also suggest that you contact the office directly and ask some questions on the telephone. You will not only gain extra information, but you will also be making a good first impression with some of the employees.
Many graduates fail to demonstrate their research skills in an interview, and rely on their natural charm to carry them through. Whilst this is sometimes successful, it is far safer for candidates to do their research and take preparation with them to an interview. Document your findings and be prepared to discuss your research.
ProGrad is a specialist graduate recruitment company working with over 600 companies across Australia. For more information about our process, please contact our ProGrad Graduate Management Team on 02 8235 8300.