Quick Links

You've been called to interview for what seems like a fantastic job opportunity. Now what?

First a few steps to make sure that the employer is someone you really want to work for:

• Check with the local professional associations, see if the employer or key staff are members of their professional community.
  • Check in "Associations" in your yellow pages to find appropriate organizations they might be affiliated with. Often these affiliations are listed on the employer's website.
• If the employer is required to be registered or have a license, check to make sure those are current and in good standing.
• Check with Better Business Bureau to see if complaints have been filed against this employer.
• Use your personal and professional network to get other's perceptions of the employer.
• Go online and look at what is happening in the profession or industry and what major issues are that might impact your career.

Follow these tips to prepare for—and land—the job you want:

Preparing for the Interview

• Research the prospective employer by visiting their Web site. Take note of any recent press releases or announcements, read the bios of the leadership team, learn the organization's mission statement, research their benefits, and understand their member/customer base.

• Search for them on Google™ and Yahoo!®, and find the employer's local newspaper online to search for articles written about the organization.

• Take a copy of the position description with you, along with a few extra copies of your resume, a notepad and pen, and other materials the prospective employer might have asked for or would want to see. This is your time to "show and tell." 

• Have specific questions about the job and the organization prepared ahead of time. Show them that you're interested in who they are. Don't forget to ask questions about the financial health and challenges of the organization. You don't want to be surprised when you start your new job. 
• Take notes during the interview and be sure to get business cards from everyone you meet.

• Finally, be sure to send a thank-you note to each person you interviewed with promptly afterward. Mention a key conversation you shared with the person and how you look forward to working with him or her. This is your last chance to make an impression. All thank-you communications should be hand-written and mailed—not sent electronically using e-mail or fax.

Modified From ASAE Career HQ