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Interviewing Archive Preparing for Interviews
WomenSportsJobs - Interview Tips Do your homework. Hopefully before you arrive for your interview you understand what the company or organization does. Find out who their competitors are. Review the job description several times. Do some research on “who” you will specifically be interviewing with. What is his or her style of management? Do they have a sense of humor? Answer the questions asked. Seems simple right? You would be surprised at how many people don’t ever answer the question asked. Instead they go off in a different direction wasting valuable time. Be brief and direct when answering the question. Don’t babble on and on. Articulate your background and experience well. Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses. Accent your strengths. Practice role-playing in the mirror or with a friend. Being nervous is natural. The interview is an important conversation and some anxiety about its outcome is to be expected. Remember, the better you have prepared and the more you have practiced answering the basic questions the more likely you will be able to impress the interviewer. Focus on describing your abilities and assets in relation to the job. Emphasize what “you” can do for the employer. How can you contribute to the organization? Don't volunteer weaknesses, but be prepared to discuss what limitations you have, and more importantly, what you are doing to improve them. Dress Appropriately. You should look the part you wish to play. Dress in interview basics. Conservatively is advised, and most often means a suit for women. Try to arrive for the interview early enough to collect your thoughts and make a final check of your appearance in a mirror. Limit the size and amount of jewelry, make-up and overpowering fragrances. Once in the interview, avoid excessive gesturing, eye contact with the floor instead of the interviewer and poor posture that may indicate a lack of enthusiasm or interest. Communicate well. Try to think of the interview as a conversation, an exchange of information. Although an interview tends to be more formal than most conversations, establishing rapport with the interviewer and having a sense of humor can be as important as communicating the ability to make sound decisions and having strong credentials. Be poised and confident, but be careful not to come across as arrogant. Be prepared to answer certain significant questions about yourself. In addition, know what questions you want to ask the prospective employer regarding the company or organization, programs, clientele, general working conditions, etc. If you have done your homework ahead of time, you should already know some of these answers, but the interview is the right time to find out more. Wrap Up. Don’t be afraid to inquire what the next step is. For example, “Do you know when you will be making a decision?”
or “When can I expect to hear from you?” Last, don’t forget to drop a thank you note in the mail as a courtesy and as a follow-up. |
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Remember there is no 2nd chance to make a first impression! Having the perfect resume is
great -- but resumes by themselves rarely land jobs; interviews however do. Preparation is key to having an effective interview. What do you know about the company or organization?
The sports industry is a “tight-nit community.” If you don’t know much about the organization, chances are someone you know does! Have you seen the job description? Do you
understand what the employer is looking for? Here are a few tips from our staff of experts from the
Women In Sports Careers Foundation (WISC).