Interviewing for a job can be overwhelming. Competition is tough and companies are looking to ensure they attract and hire only the top talent in the industry. The good news is that there are actions a candidate can take to increase his or her chances of getting the job. The most important step in interviewing successfully is preparing for the job interview in advance. Rest assured, this takes some time, but is not as difficult as it sounds and the result is well worth the effort.

Improved job interview results are certain, if you follow this four-step formula for success:

1. Study the job opening
2. Study the company
3. Study your resume
4. Create your tool kit

First, study the job opening, duties and position requirements. What education or certifications are required? What job experience are they looking for? What are the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the job duties? Without this information, you cannot fully prepare yourself to provide examples to the interviewer indicating you can perform successfully in the position.

Second, study the company to gain a full understanding of the organization’s culture, values, products/services, strategy, recent news and competitors. During the job interview, the interviewer will ask questions to assess your motivation and compatibility with the company. With some up front research, you can ensure your job interview answers align appropriately with the company culture and needs, increasing your chances of getting the job offer.

Third, study your resume. It is critical to be aware of what your resume says and arm yourself with additional details to back it up. Regardless of how well your memory serves you, it can be difficult to recall detailed job experiences and speak effectively about your work history and skills on the fly. Take some time to reflect on your resume and document your greatest accomplishments, skills used or further developed in each position and the challenges you overcame.

Lastly, create your job interview tool kit. The tool kit consists of the well-prepared responses you will pull from to answer the job interview questions you are asked. This step involves a comparison of what you know about the company and job opening with your detailed work experience and skills as outlined in the prior three steps. For each of the job requirements and important pieces of information you’ve obtained about the company, think about how you would answer a related question. For example, if the job requisition lists “ability to influence” as a requirement, how would you provide an example of how you’ve done so effectively in the past and achieved a desired result? Some time spent pulling together a good set of responses will boost your confidence and put you at ease during the job interview. Remember, your examples can easily be tailored to fit a number of different interview questions. For instance, an example of how you solved a difficult problem could also be used to demonstrate your analytical skills or ability to overcome obstacles.

Advance preparation makes a significant impact on your job interview result. When this simple four-step approach is put into practice, your dream job can become a reality!

B. Pink is an experience Human Resources professional offering valuable advice and practical tips for job seekers everywhere. For more detailed tips on mastering your job interview, visit http://www.squidoo.com/job-interviewing-how-to-prepare-for-your-job-interview

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