Just like preparing for hurricanes in
preparing for a job interview is equally as important. It goes over and above making sure your conservative attire that is clean, neat and
pressed, with clean shoes. In order to be a standout, it pays to also go above
and beyond what your competition will do to secure the job.
Modular home factory HR people and recruiters are looking for professionalism more than ever, so stepping it up a notch or two is now expected.
For example:
1. Get to know the company you are interviewing with well.
Visit their website and get familiar with who they are, what they do, and what
their ‘mission statement’ is, if they have one. This will give you some insight
regarding what to say in response to any questions you may be asked in an
interview. If you sound as though you ‘fit‘, it will help them to qualify you
as a ‘fit‘. Saying what the prospective employer wants to hear can give you the
edge. That’s why it pays to do your homework in advance.
2. Do a Google search
to review their most up to date press releases and news articles. This may help you to see the hierarchy of the
company and discern who their executives are.
3. Do research on
LinkedIn, as well, to get a better feel for the profile of the company.
4. Make sure you can pronounce the name(s) of those you will
be interviewing with correctly. If you
are unsure of how to pronounce a person’s name, you can call in advance and ask
at the front desk to make sure you are accurate. This will add to your
confidence and the way you are received by the prospective employer.
5. Practice various
scenarios in your head and prepare for the unexpected. For instance, you may be
expecting the person who scheduled the interview to be the only one
interviewing you. In many cases, there may be two or more persons in the room
at the time of the interview. This can be a bit distracting and intimidating
with questions firing from all directions, if you are not prepared for it. Also, as a good exercise, you may want to
Google interview questions online that are typically asked in your industry or
in an interview in general. In this way,
you can prepare ahead with a response for those questions that you feel will
resonate with your prospective employer.
Finally, it’s important to wear clothing to the interview
that you feel comfortable in that is in good repair and not distracting to you
or others. Interviewing for a factory sales rep position doesn’t mean you show up in slacks and sneakers.
Cathy L. Sage is President of Robert Sage Careers, LLC; an
Executive Search Firm and Job Board Publisher that specializes in the Factory
Built Structures Industries. Cathy Sage
can be reached at (727) 540-5350 or [email protected]. For more information about the company and to
visit the job board, access: http://www.robertsagecareers.com.
