The job description is a cheat sheet for the company’s wants and needs in a candidate. Review the desired qualifications, as well as the main responsibilities involved in the role. While you don’t need to do a deep dive, researching the company can help you understand the company’s needs and culture better.
Here are some tips to keep in mind as you prepare for a screening interview:
Review the Job Description:
The job description is a cheat sheet for the company’s wants and needs in a candidate. Review the desired qualifications, as well as the main responsibilities involved in the role. While you don’t need to do a deep dive, researching the company can help you understand the company’s needs and culture better.
Make Every Word Count:
Screening interviews are often brief, so aim to provide the most important information, rather than being exhaustive in responses. You don’t need to recite every task you’ve performed at previous jobs, just the most relevant ones. That’s where reviewing the job description comes in handy, since it provides clues about what to emphasize in your answers. Focus on your skills that match the requirements listed in the job posting.
Review Phone Interview Tips:
If your interview is on the phone, review telephone interview tips beforehand. Find a quiet place to talk with the interviewer and minimize distractions. It’s important to be able to focus on the conversation, not on what’s happening around you. The same goes for a video call on a software program such as Skype – find a quiet place and also check the lighting and positioning of your web camera, so you make a good visual first impression.
Know your resume:
Your resume may have the answers to many of the questions you’ll be asked. Be patient if it seems as though your interviewer hasn’t read it — he or she may be interviewing many people and can’t necessarily remember details about every candidate. Be prepared with succinct descriptions of your previous jobs and stories that prove your abilities.
Be Straight-Forward:
Remember, the interviewer is sorting candidates into two piles with screening interviews. You want to wind up in the pile of candidates moving on to the next round. Make it easy by providing exactly the information the interviewer needs, in a straight-forward fashion. Making a personal connection is a bit less important at this stage of the hiring process.
Follow up with a Thank You Note:
As with any point of contact between you and a company, you want to acknowledge your appreciation for the time. Use your thank-you note to remind the interviewer of your qualifications, and your enthusiasm for the position. Because this is a first-round interview and the employer may be making decisions on second interviews quickly, send an email thank you note as soon as possible.
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