How to Prepare for an Interview - Creating Success Stories

It is a very tough job market in the summer of 2009. The employers hold the upper hand as there are more individuals seeking employment than there are jobs available. According to Michael Neece, CEO of Interview Mastery, during a recession it takes 17 job interviews to get an offer. This compares with a ratio of 6 to 1 in times of full employment. This statistic reinforces the need for interview preparation. Since most candidates don't put much effort into interview preparation those that do will have a competitive edge. The most qualified person does not necessarily get the job. It is the candidate who best convinces the hiring manager of their capabilities to make an impact in the organization. How to prepare for an interview is a critical skill in today's job market.

One way to sway the interviewer's opinion in your favor is to have a portfolio of success stories that you can tell in an interview. Let's examine the three components of an effective success story.

1. The situation or opportunity. Describe a situation or opportunity that arose during a previous job. The scenario that you describe needs to have importance to the organization where it occurred. It could be solving a customer satisfaction issue, making a significant sale, or reducing expenses.
2. What actions did you take. Describe in detail the specific action steps that you took in the positive outcome of the situation or opportunity that you described. You need to be specific so you paint a clear picture of your important role in the outcome.
3. What were the results. You need to describe the results in quantifiable terms. If you are describing a sale for example, state that the revenue received was $100,000. It is the specific quantifiable results that will become memorable to the interviewer.

You want to create a number of these success stories from your past experiences. The ones you use in an interview will vary depending on the situation. As you do research into a company and job position you will be able to determine which stories may have the most impact. Also, during the interview, as you learn about priorities, you can position yourself as the being the best candidate by telling a success story that solved a similar need. You can also steer the conversation through the use of prepared questions to give you the opportunity to tell a success story that you feel is important.

Most candidates discuss their previous job responsibilities and general skills. Set yourself apart by relating the specific results that you have achieved. If you do this effectively your job offers will come more frequently. It pays to educate yourself on how to prepare for an interview.