In today's tough job market, an interview is a coveted opportunity. I regularly hear from job seekers that they'd like insight on how to perform better in interview situations. I'd like to pass along advice on how to earn an "A" the next time you are face-to-face with an employer.

In my mind, great preparation is the path to a great interview. I'm always shocked by the number of people who come into our interviews completely unprepared. As can be expected, this never ends well.

I'm very certain these people do not have an "interview death wish." Rather I suspect they never learned how to properly prepare themselves for an interview. Before attending an interview, it is best to divide your preparation into three sections.

1. Anticipation of the questions asked about your skills and experiences
2. Research done on the company/division interested in you
3. Questions you will ask the interviewer

I have compiled a quick cheat sheet for each of these interview preparation elements.

1. Skills and Experience Questions
Start your preparation by writing down all the questions that you think the interviewer might ask you. Most interviewers start by reviewing a candidate's resume, so be sure to write down all the tough questions someone could ask about your resume.

For example a recruiter might ask, "Why did you leave ABC Corp if everything was going so well?" Often the interviewer will want to focus on specific skills or expertise areas. Be sure to add the most challenging questions you can imagine to your list of potential questions. A good example of a tough question could be, "Were you just exposed to Internet marketing, or are you truly an expert?"

Once you have created this list, go back and type out the answers to the questions. Focus on creating three to five sentences for each response. Why do this? It has been proven that this preparation process forces you to think through your responses in advance. You will be amazed at how much smoother the interview will run when you are not thinking out loud in front of the hiring manager.


2. Company and Organization Research
The goal of doing personal research is to demonstrate to an employer that you know how to prepare for a meeting, and that you are truly interested in their job. In today's Google-enhanced world, there is no excuse for walking into an interview unprepared. Here is what you should know prior to showing up for an interview:
• What product or service is offered by this part of the organization? Who the competitors are, and what makes this company win in the marketplace? You don't need to be an expert, but you do need to show you know what their organization is all about.
• What recent news has come out about the organization? What does the press, analysts, or stock market say about the company? The goal is not to be conversational about these topics. This information will help you understand the big issues facing the company. I once interviewed a person who was not aware of a major acquisition we announced the day before. This made the candidate look disinterested to me.
• You want to know your intimate connections to the company. With Web sites like LinkedIn or Facebook, you can often discover whether you have close or distant ties to the person interviewing you. There is nothing better then starting an interview by saying, "we both know Jack Clark." This works in your favor if Jack would give you a positive reference.


3. Your Interview Questions
Ask any hiring manager about their worst interviewing experiences and they'll describe candidates who didn't ask questions. These questions create your chance to show intellectual curiosity. So what is my secret? Develop five questions you can use at almost every interview. A few of my personal favorites are:
• How do I get an "A" in this position?
• What are the long-term goals of the organization?
• If I earn an "A" in this position, what growth areas would be available to me?
• What is the leadership style of the manager that I would be reporting to?
• How would you describe the candidate that is a great cultural fit for the company?

I hope these tips help you with your next interview.

Rob McGoven is the CEO and founder of Jobfox. For the past 15 years he has helped people get ahead in their careers. Rob started Jobfox to help workers connect with employers in a whole new way. Prior to Jobfox, he was the founder and CEO of Careerbuilder. In his spare time, he wrote the book Bring Your "A" Game: The 10 Career Secrets of the High Achiever.

Last updated: January 2010