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Interview Preparation
In the last newsletter my colleague talked about the importance of your resume and how to use it to differentiate yourself in a tough job market. As the next step to the process I am going to cover interview preparation.
Due to the recent tough economy, companies are struggling to secure budget for open headcount and the number of vacancies in the market is small. This situation creates serious competition to secure a position, and how you perform in the interview is very important. In a good market, but even more so in a competitive one, companies favor a candidate who is proactive, confident, and well prepared for the interview. You need to be very well informed about the company, the position you are applying for, and the interview process.
You should prepare in two ways: self-preparation and preparation through your recruiter.
Self-preparation:
- Study the culture of the company that you are interviewing with. Network with friends and acquaintances to find someone who works at the company or used to.
- Practice explaining your past work experience and talking about why you are suitable for the position.
- Prepare some recent examples of challenging situations where you succeeded. Make sure you prepare the “SAR” -- Situation, Action, Result -- for each example. What was happening in the company at the time, what did YOU do, and what was the result? This kind of example is the most effective.
- Read the job description carefully and anticipate some questions that might come to you around key areas, such as leadership, people management, or teamwork ability. Prepare good answers that show your competency in these areas.
Preparation through your recruiter:
Your recruiter is an excellent source of information and can tell you about the company and the interview process, so be sure to ask lots of questions as part of your preparation. The recruiter may not always have full information on a client, especially if they are new to Japan or a start-up, but your recruiter has been dealing with the industry for many years and has a strong sense of priorities that can help make an interview more successful.
As a candidate you should ask some key questions of the recruiter:
1st Interview Phase (HR and the Hiring Manager)
- What kind of positions did you fill for the client in the past and why were your candidates successful or not successful in getting the job?
- Who is the HR/hiring manager and what is his/her personality like?
- Is there anyone who already interviewed for the position? What was the feedback? What did the client like/dislike?
2nd+ Interview Phase (Other Counterparts)
- Who will be interviewing me next? What competencies might they focus on?
- What are my strengths and weaknesses when compared with other candidates?
- What am I missing in terms of qualifications/skills and therefore what do I need to emphasize to balance any limitations in my background?
Final Phase (VP and President Level)
- How many finalists are remaining?
- What is the personality of the president?
- In the past, for what reasons did the president reject any finalists?
Any client who conducts three or more interviews expects you to learn from each interview step and to make progress in developing your insights into their company. Be sure to continue preparing each step of the way.
In this tough job market, preparation is key. Be sure to spend time on it and the reward could be a new job!
Yusuke Yasuda
Practice Leader
Yusuke leads the CDS's online media practice.
View Yusuke's CDS Profile
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