Research
Conduct thorough research on the company and its competitors. Go beyond the corporate website. What does the company do? Is it public or private? Is it global or national? Read press releases. Sign up for Google News Alerts. Read the job description thoroughly and relate your experience as much as you can to the position and organization. Be clear how it will translate into this new role.

Organize and Prepare Your Story
Throughout your career, you may pursue different directions. Be prepared to discuss the reasons for which you’re taking your career in a certain direction. Organize talking points that help you tell your story. It’s important to touch on reasons why you may have left a company without criticizing your former co–workers or supervisors. Explain with confidence and grace the reason you are making or have made a career change.

Prepare Several Compelling
Questions (and take notes)
You should not ask anything that can be found in your research. For example “How big is the company?”. A more appropriate question is “How many people are in this team/group/department and would I be interacting with any other departments on a daily basis?”. You should not ask questions that are meant to trick or throw off your interviewer either. They will see this as negative and aggressive.

Articulate Your Value
You need to be able to address the value that you bring to the company. Be prepared to share your skills and accomplishments and discuss how they benefit the company. Articulate these accomplishments in a problem–action–results sequence.

Articulate Your Management Style
Be prepared to share and discuss the environment or culture where you can be the most productive. Are you most effective in a chaotic, fast–paced, high–stressed environment? Do you bring a calming influence in a chaotic setting? Are you detail oriented, driven by reports in a micro–managed structure? Be prepared to describe your typical activity in a normal work day.

Compensation
ONLY when asked should you broach compensation. As your recruiter, we will guide you through this process. The range and package will typically depend on experience. Know the difference between your needs, your value to the company, and market trends. The hiring company certainly cares about your success, but they are not accountable for your financial responsibilities. You must come up with a realistic range based on your value, market trends and needs.

What You Need
Remember, they will be looking at you as a representation of the company – a part of the whole. Your appearance, demeanor, attitude and preparedness will also be a reflection upon us. We ask that you:

a) Wear your most professional business attire no matter how casual the organization.
b) Bring several copies of your resume, even if you’re only meeting with one person.
c) Bring any documentation of accomplishments, KSA’s, awards & achievements, referral letters or applications if appropriate for the position.
d) Make sure you know the name of your interviewer/s and how to pronounce it. If you they do not have a business card for you, write their name and email down on your paper.
e) Reiterate your interest, your fit, and your willingness to take the next step.

If you do your homework well, you will be extraordinarily successful in your interview. It will become easy for you to open new doors of opportunity toward landing the job of your dreams!