This week, two clients asked me this, adding that they do not have ALL OF THE BACKGROUND required. Below is my combined answer.
1) Do your homework on the company/Be prepared: Research the company on their website if they have one. Use the information you found and weave it into the conversation to demonstrate your energy level and interest. (e.g., "I noticed on your website that you [FILL IN THE BLANK]." Then come up with a question such as, "What specifically are you doing to address that?")
2) Go to the library and look up the business on "ReferenceUSA." If you have a library card, you may be able to access this database from home (as you can in California, and even export a list of employers to an Excel spreadsheet).
3) Try to find out what their top 3 business objectives and challenges this year are. If you cannot do figure that out, simply ask them AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE IN THE INTERVIEW so that you can craft a few answers around those three things.
4) Type up your CARS (Challenges-Actions-Results) as a "cheat sheet," and highlight "trigger" words." Use this as a quick reference document during interviews. CARS are stories built around your best resume bullets (effectively-written resume bullets should contain the ACTIONS you took to solve a problem/address a task and the outcome/results (meaning, WHY you took those actions), or a few words about HOW you took action), so that your personality and style differentiate you from others. From there, you need to write add the "Challenge" piece which is the BEGINNING of the story. All good stories have a beginning, a middle and an end. Therefore, since resume bullets typically state the middle and the end, you need to be ready to explain the beginning circumstances (Challenge). If someone says, "Tell me about that." you should have the beginning of the story ready.
5) Have an "antidote" to any areas where you fall short in case they address them. For instance, if they want an MBA, are you willing to get one? That may make a difference. If they want XX experience, do you compensate by making it up in other ways, or can you take a workshop to get it or volunteer somewhere to fill that void? I told one client to go onto their website and download their software tutorial or free trial to at least be familiar with it. I also urged him to "Google" the topic AND go on www.youtube.com to see what videos may exists on that software.
6) At the end of the telephone or in-person interview:
a) Ask if there is anything that has not been covered that they have concerns about (any outstanding questions) in terms of your capabilities/ability to do the job. If so, address them on the spot.
b) Ask what their time horizon is for moving forward and what the process/next steps are.
7) If you can get in front of them, bring a 3-ring black binder (or formal portfolio from an art supply store) with work samples. This packs a powerful punch for the following reasons:
a) It will show you are prepared
b) It sets you apart from other candidates
c) It demonstrates that you care/want the job
d) It will aid in the decision-making process and the reference-checking process as you are supplying proof that you've done the things they need you to do
e) It will market other skills you have that they may not have thought about, but may need
f) It will reinforce your capabilities as they are SEEING work samples vs. just HEARING about them (most people process and retain information that is presented visually. (The ability to hear AND see improves their likelihood of remembering your unique talents)
g) It will calm your nerves and let you explain the events leading up to the development of that piece with confidence and passion as you point to something and take the attention off someone looking at you. Be sure to tell in "CAR" (a story) format how things unfolded, being careful to detail the thought process you engaged in to get from “Point A” to “Point B.” (Rehearse a few times with someone!!!)
Hope this helps others, too!
