Preparing an interview preparation plan involves these steps

Step 1

Awareness of your goals and objectives:

You may be in any stage of the career either a fresher or an experienced professional. The answer to this question is important. It really means are you aware of your short term and long terms goals or objectives. Now what does this really mean? Goals can be personal or professional goals? Have you at least thought about them? Goals could change during the course of life. Life can be very unpredictable sometimes… we may have wanted different things five years ago and today something totally different. Nothing wrong with this all we need to do is think. You could do a SWOT analysis exercise (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats) for yourself illustrated in Exhibit 1:2. We need to introspect, you need to list down your goals chart below:

Exhibit 1:1 Goal sheet

Exhibit 1:1 will help you to pre-plan for your interview.

Exhibit 1:2 SWOT sheet

Step 2:

Enhance skill set

Are we having the required skill-set to perform our job? Exhibit 1:3. If not, you need to refresh your knowledge by either registering yourself for a training program, taking up a certification course, doing a part-time or full-time education degree or just reading about the new trends in your field of interest. The option you choose will depend on your requirement, financial situation and the time-frame available.

Exhibit 1:3 Skill gap analysis

Step 3:

Resume: How do you create a winning resume.

Although writing a resume will be covered in Chapter 3 in detail. Resume is an important part of the entire job selection process. It is the medium through which the prospective recruiter knows you even before actually meeting you. Its important to create the first impression even when you are not in the room. Preparing a resume is an important step to inch closer to the job interview.

Step 4:

Target sources: How do you get to know?

Today with technology disruptions taking a spin in all fields including in the recruitment process we have different platforms for job applications:

1. Job portal websites/ Apps: You easily upload your resume/ profile on one of these popular job portals.

Pros

• Multiple job opportunities
• Easy option to apply to numerous jobs

Cons

• You are one of the thousands applying for the job
• If you are lucky you will be filtered in the recruiter’s search

• Networking sessions:

Pros

• Meet new people
• Cross learning between people
• Could come across prospective recruiter in a causal set-up

Cons

• You don’t know what to expect
• What if you are not sociable? Will you lose out?

• Job fairs:

Pros

• Lot of information
• Many recruiters under one roof
• Could be helpful in understanding different options available.

Cons

• May not lead you to a definite offer receipt.
• It may only work for fresh graduates and not for experienced professionals.

• Social media platforms:

Pros

• Recent trend of recruitment
• Personalised source of finding recruiters and prospective candidates
• Easy to apply option

Cons

• Restricted pool of candidates as not everyone use’s these platforms.

• Referral:

Pros

• Personalised: I know what to expect. I have access to information about the company’s culture, way of working etc.
• Recruiters find this source as the most trusting way of recruitment.

Cons

• Limited number of such opportunities

• Company website

Pros

• The candidate is specifically interested in this particular company so will apply on the company website.

Cons

• Job opportunities are limited.

• Others

There are many other platforms used by recruiters and prospective candidates.

Any one of the above platform may have worked for you in the past, present or future. It really depends on the type of job opportunities you are looking for.

Step 5:

Apply for the job

• Read the job description thoroughly.
• Read about the company, its values, its objectives, its mission, the products and services, company’s future plans, its financials, other information depending on area of specialisation of the job.
• Does the location of the job suite you and your goals? Will you need to re-locate for the job? Is yes, then what would be the implications?
• Is the position a set up or set down?
• Is the job description different from your current role? If yes, why would you opt to apply for this job?
• Does the position expect you to travel 50% or more of the time? Is your current role having similar travel requirements?
• What are the top 3 reasons you want to apply for this particular job?
• While filling the job application: Be Honest, Be precise, Be correct.
• Fill in the job application well before the deadline.
• Read and check the job application before submission.
• Attach a covering letter and your resume in the recommended format requested.

Step 6:

Opinion counts: Relative/ Friends

Opinions do count! ‘2 cents’ from relatives or friends is important in the recruitment process. We may over-look on certain aspects but involving 1 or more person(s) is important from the stand-point of another perspective or even making them part of this important decision.

            Step 7:

Preparing a checklist to be followed and tracked for the day before the job interview is crucial and helps you be prepared.

A planner or a checklist can be very useful to review one day before your job interview. It will work as a guide and planner. This topic will be detailed in Chapter 6 with a helpful checklist.