Preparing for an Interview
Interviews take courage. You are putting yourself out there and being vulnerable when you interview. Always remember the point of an interview is to see if you are a right fit for a company and to see if a company is the right fit for you. They should be conversations not interrogations, though it’s normal for the company to guide the conversation.
Interviews can be nerve racking. If you adequately prepare for an interview it can help you ease nerves and gain more insight into if you are and the company are a good fit for each other.
The key to an interview is honesty and transparency. If you need to think about a question before you answer it or are not sure, tell the interviewer.
Interviewers want to get to know you. A good general interview posture: is to remember to breathe and be honest.
Research…
Research is the best way to prepare for an interview.
The first place to go to research a company is their website. This gives you an idea of who they are, what they value, how and where they operate, and how they want to be perceived.
Another good place to find out information about a company is through its current or former employees. This can be a good way to find out about the inner workings of a company, what is expected of its employees, and what the staff culture is like.
Speak to more than one employee or former employee if you can. This can give you a more holistic perspective on what it’s like to work there because different people have different experiences working for the same place.
Basic research can turn up a lot of foundational information like organizational values, goals and objectives or the service area of a company. But often times basic research doesn’t paint a holistic picture of what it’s like to work for the company.
As you are doing your research, it is good to be mindful of questions to ask in your interview. If there is something you want to know that is not on the website or is not readily available you should ask it in the interview.
What you should ask an in interview:
A good time to learn about a company you’re working for is in the interview. You have a captive audience who can answer questions about the in’s and out’s of a place you may be investing a lot of your time into. These type of questions show genuine interest or passion about working for a company.
A goal for any job candidate should be to walk out of the interview having a good indication of whether the job is a good fit for you. And if you are a good fit for the job. These may be some questions you want some perspective on in an interview.
What do the day to day responsibilities look like for a MC/Manager/Director?
What is your favorite part of working at Mountain TOP?
What does success look like in this position?
What does staff training look like?
Is there anything in my background or resume that makes you question if I’m a good fit for working at Mountain T.O.P.?
How does the time between being hired and the summer look?
What are partnerships, what is the best way to find them? When can I start raising?
Asking follow-up or clarifying questions if things aren’t clear is a good practice as well.
Feel free to use these questions or make your own!