Recently, I went through the job search and interview process. It was a little confusing at first as I didn’t know how I wanted to approach my preparation, but after a little research and some help from friends, the process became easier. With that said, I wanted to share some important steps in this 3-part interview preparation series to explain what it took for me to prepare and eventually land a new role. In part 1, I will talk about how to properly study the job description, why each section is important, and why it’s important to utilize your network during the job research process.
Study the Job Description (JD)
Studying the JD is a great start to help you crush a job interview. JDs typically include roughly the following sections: Responsibilities, Qualifications, Experience.
Why it’s Important: Reading through the JD allows you to understand the primary objectives of the role, aids in tailoring your resume, and helps prepare for the actual interview. Here is a quick brief on why it’s good to understand each section.
Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
Experience:
For more tips on how to decode the job description – here is a great article that I found useful during my research: Study Job Listing To Get The Job
The next big thing that helped me was utilizing my network.
Why it’s Important: Your network can often give you details on the company and its culture, the hiring manager and their management style, work-life balance, perceived glass ceilings and more. This information is priceless!
Bonus Points: Ask for recommendations on LinkedIn and provide recommendations in return. You can use these later as conversation points in an interview or as sentiments.
I have used these concepts in my own job search/ interview preparation with success and I wanted to pass them on to you! For more tips on how to use networks to your advantage read this article: How to Actually Use Your Network To Get Through A Job Search Even the Tough Parts
Look out for my article next week when I cover strategy to develop a deeper understanding of the role and preparing for interview questions you might receive. Let me know if you have any thoughts or questions by replying below to comment. I look forward to hearing from you!