I am preparing for a very important job interview. This one isn’t my first interview by any means, but it is for a really good job for me (if it were my first, would I have any advice to give…?). To be fully prepared for the interview, I have a set of 5 go to essentials; and not just any essentials, but 5 P’s. And while you don’t need to bring the exact same kit that I do, I feel that many of these items and tips are useful.
Padfolio
A leather notebook is the most essential thing to bring with you on the interview. It will literally be your lifeline. Almost all of the rest of the 5 P’s will be stored in this handsome case. Always keep a notepad along with a couple of pens in here. Even a calculator may come in handy.
Pages of Notes
Exactly what kind of notes? Well, everything that you need for your interview, of course. These can include:
- Directions to the office
- Info about the company
- Questions you want to ask
- Answers to Common Interview Questions
And by the way, you can use the pages to take notes! Another tip, for when you are stumped, is to tell the interviewer that you are taking a note down; meanwhile, you will have time to think of a reply!
Personal Swag
Alright, now don’t go making pens and gift bags covered in your name to give to interviewers; that is borderline bribery. Instead, be sure to bring plenty of good clean copies of your masterpiece resume. The fact is that you have only 30 seconds to make an impression with you resume, so make sure it is bullet proof. Don’t forget to have some form of business card as well; although I wouldn’t go too crazy!
Professional Clothes
This is something that I feel is often overlooked. It is not just enough to wear a suit or the equivalent for a girl. It needs to be crisp, clean and well put together. Now, you don’t need to get a sweet Armani suit from Saks, but it is a good investment to take your older suit or clothes to a skilled tailor who can really get the fit right. And accessories do really matter; nothing too glitzy. A watch is all that a guy needs and for the ladies, a watch and a conservative earring and necklace set will do.
Personal Digital Assistant
PDA’s are essential for any serious business person. Combining calendars and contacts is a great enough feature, but now when you throw in email and phone calling, you have the ultimate scheduling and productivity machine. You will have a hard time forgetting where you interview is, or what the name of the interviewer is. Anything Blackberry or iPhone like will do. Of course, if that is too high tech for you, there is always the famous hipster PDA!
Bonus Essential: Thank You Cards
While sending a thank you card may not land you that dream job, it will help the interviewer remember you. And the main reason I use them is to build up my network. It will keep you fresh in the mind of the recipient and they will be more likely to call you if something opens up. The Simple Dollar has a great post telling when and how to write great thank you notes.
Do you have anything uniquw that you take to an interview? I would love to hear about it!
Thanx for the cool Interview and keep up the good work.
Alright, now don’t go making pens and gift bags covered in your name to give to interviewers; that is borderline bribery.
I like the cool interview, look forward to more great stuff like this .
thx for this article. good work!
5 P’s used to stand for Proper Planning Prevent Poor Performance
Well, your advice are very good too. I t is important to know the answer to “why do you want to work for our company?” – and do some background check of the company. Also, think about what opportunities and threats there are int hat business. Or, you can even ask advice what that company sees as the future possibilities in that business.
My trick/tip is to buy a brand new pair of shoes for an interview that I really want to go well. This could get expensive if one had a lot of interviews, but I am really picky and have lots of options so I really have only needed to do it a few times.
Thanks a lot dude! I’ll be attending interviews myself later this year and am trying to pick up all the advice i can get over the net! This helps a lot! Thanks again!
Hey Guys,
This is one of the best pieces of help I have come across for everyone who is preparing for interviews. Great research.
I have attended several interviews.I will follow these tips for future interviews.thanks.
Great Tips !
Here is my thinking
* Practice by going on interviews, even for jobs you have no interest.
* Research the company thoroughly. Use the medias to find current information.
* Know the company’s market, product and goals.
* Memorize some facts about the company and be prepared to cite them during the interview.
* Prepare a list of intelligent questions to ask during your interview.
* Talk to people who work or have worked at the company.
Great Tips !
Here is my thinking
* Practice by going on interviews, even for jobs you have no interest.
* Research the company thoroughly. Use the medias to find current information.
* Know the company’s market, product and goals.
* Memorize some facts about the company and be prepared to cite them during the interview.
* Prepate a list of intelligent questions to ask during your interview.
* Talk to people who work or have worked at the company.
gidin burdan
ideas will come into your mind and the writting will be very easier.
müzik derken akla ilk gelen isim
Always check out the company you’re going to see and learn as much about them as possible. It will impress them that you’ve done you’re homework, and you’ll get to see for yourself whther their marketing is for real or not.