Information to Have on Yourself & Employer During an Interview

Information to Have on Yourself During an Interview

Be prepared to give examples and talk about yourself in terms of your skills.

• Creative Skills: Develop models, experiment, apply theory, synthesize, predict, create new ideas, use imagination.
• Organizing Skills: Keep deadlines, details, accept responsibility, reason, use logic, make contacts, arrangements, decisions, clarify, clerical skills.
• Numerical Skills: Use computational and statistical abilities, inventory.
• Communication Skills: Write reports, letters and promotional materials, edit, explain, speak clearly, effectively.
• Instruction Skills: Coach, facilitate groups, design educational materials.
• Persuasion Skills: Influence others, sell, develop trust and support, motivate, arbitrate, negotiate, advance proposals, reconcile conflict.
• Human Relations and Interpersonal Skills: Understand, listen, question, guide, review, represent, advocate, team work.
• Research and Investigation Skills: Identify information sources, formulate questions, design experimental models, use a variety of information, assess needs.
• Design and Planning Skills: Set priorities, schedule time, identify alternatives, set goals, follow through, predict future trends.
• Performing Skills: Public speaking, humor, story-telling, stage presence
• Leadership Skills: Organize time, initiate, clarify and solve problems, take risks, self-directed, set goals and standards, assign, organize ideas, design projects, make decisions, share responsibilities, implement projects, build teams.
• Economic/Financial Skills: Prepare and administer budgets, financial accountability.
• Critical Thinking Skills: Identify critical issues, identify general principles, define parameters of a problem, reasoning, logic, creative problem solving, analyze from any angle.
• Evaluation Skills: Assess performance, set standards, make decisions, analysis review.

Information to Have on the Employer During an Interview

• Organizational goals
• Relative size of firm
• Growth potential for security
• Percent of annual sales growth last five years
• Array of product or service line
• Who are competitors?
• Reputation
• Organization structure by product line
• Geographical locations – relocation policies
• Number of plants, stores or sales outlets
• Short-term profit picture
• Average time in non-management assignment
• Recent items in the news and periodicals
• Structure assets – price of stock
• Percent of annual growth in earnings/share
• People you know in the company
• Formal vs. on-the-job-training
• Typical career path in your field
• Company Culture
• Consumers: Public/private, industry/business, lease/buy products