The goal of the résumé is to get the attention of the recruiter or hiring manager and ultimately be called for an interview. Once you secure an interview date, researching and preparing for the interview is extremely important. Like studying for a test, some of the information you can prepare ahead of time — and some of it is important to review just to be better prepared in general. Believe it or not, many job seekers don’t prepare for interviews. Spend just 30-60 minutes (at a minimum) to improve your chances of securing a job offer.
Research on the company can be vital information that you can use to your advantage in the interview. It will also shape your ability to answer the interviewer’s questions, and can give you a strategic advantage when it comes to salary negotiation.
Think about a job interview from the employer’s perspective. They are looking for the best fit — skills, experience, education — and, most importantly, fit with the company’s culture. Focusing on the needs and preferences of the company can help you identify which aspects of your work history and background will best serve your future employer.
Zig Ziglar says it best, “You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” By understanding a company’s needs, you can identify how you can help them in the job you’re seeking — and demonstrate why you’re the best candidate for the position.
If it’s a sales job, you’ll want to show them how you can:
  • Increase sales, revenue, and profits
  • Secure new business while retaining existing customers
If you’re applying for an information technology position, you’ll want to demonstrate your:
  • Ability to solve problems
  • Skill in helping the company save money on their technology needs
The following is a list of  employer buying motivators. These include the company’s desire to:
  • Make money
  • Save money
  • Save time
  • Make work easier
  • Solve a specific problem
  • Be more competitive
  • Build relationships / an image
  • Expand business
  • Attract new customers
  • Retain existing customers
Keep these in mind as you prepare for the interview.
It also helps to understand that the information an interviewer wants from you falls into a couple of broad categories:
¨ Who You Are
¨ What Sets You Apart From the Other Candidates
¨ Can You Solve a Problem We Have? (Remember, all jobs solve a problem)
¨ Why You Might Not Be The Best Fit For the Job
¨ Why You’re Looking For a New Job (Unemployed? Underemployed? Seeking a better opportunity — but why?)
Understanding that most interview questions will fall into these broad categories will also help you prepare for the interview.
Employers generally formulate their interview questions around the skills they are seeking in a candidate. These skills can be:
  • Job-Specific: Technical skills that are gained through education, training, and/or hands-on experience.
  • Transferable: Skills such as problem-solving, organization, or leadership – that are inherent to you, not specific to any one job.
  • Interpersonal: Skills such as communication and collaboration.
Research before the interview can also help you ask better questions in the interview. Remember — a job interview is about “fit” — but the “fit” from your perspective is as important as “fit” from the company’s point of view. The job interview is like a first date — you want to see what you have in common and whether it’s worthwhile to continue to pursue a relationship or whether you should “see other people.”
The more you know about the company, the interviewer(s), and the job, the more confident you will be. Confidence is key, because if you are not confident in yourself, how do you expect a potential employer to feel confident in hiring you? So study up, this could be the most important test in your life that you take.