Wow! It’s been 10 years since the famous Allen Iverson press conference. “Practice…We talkin’ ’bout Practice”. I still laugh when I see or hear that clip. 2002…good times…GO SIXERS!
So you’re wondering where I’m headed with this one…I’m also talking about practice. Yes, practice! It’s the most important thing to do prior to your interview. A recently released study revealed that less than 20% of job seekers practice prior to an interview. So that means that you have an 80% chance of being more prepared than the competition…80%! I like those odds. Here are the 5 things that you should “practice” prior to your big moment.
- Your Commercial/Elevator Speech: Call it what you want…just know it off the top. It’s the 30 second intro that tells the interviewer who you are. You will be asked to give a brief synopsis of who you are…this is the time to grab their attention.
- Your Resume: You would be surprised how many people don’t actually know what information is on their resume. This could give the impression that you may be over embellishing your skills and qualifications.
- Body language: Commonly over-looked but very telling. Often your body language is speaking louder than your voice. You want to appear confident, relaxed and prepared. No arms crossing, frowns or fidgety behavior. The interviewer is trying to figure out how you’ll connect with your potential peers and the company culture. If you’re viewed to be socially challenged that could be a deterrent. Mock interviews are an excellent way of rating your comfort level and gaining valuable feedback regarding your nonverbal presentation.
- Research: In the internet age there is no reason to not have researched the company and the person conducting the interview. A standard Google and/or LinkedIn search can turn up tons of useful information.
- Know the Questions: Most interviewers are using a behavioral based interview model. They will ask you to provide scenarios and give examples. Be ready! Also when they close the interview by asking “Do you have any questions for me?” …it’s imperative that you have a pre-determined question or list of questions aimed at closing the deal.
For those of you who didn’t quite understand the basketball reference or those of you simply in search of a good laugh…I’ve taken the liberty of including the clip of Mr. Iverson “talkin’ about practice”. Enjoy & Much Success on that interview!
