After you learn about the organization and get an interview, you should learn about the specific job or position for which you will be interviewing. It is important to learn about the job you are interviewing for so you can consider further whether or not you would be a good fit for the job. This will also help you to prepare for the interview so you can talk about how your skills match the employer’s needs.
Here are four things to learn about when researching the position:
- Job duties
- Qualifications
- Education and training
- Past experience
Let’s look at these four areas in more detail:
Job duties
When you learn the specific duties of the job, you can better consider whether or not you are qualified for the position. Look up the job online to see what kinds of tasks are done on a regular basis. The job posting may also let you know what tasks are expected of you. Use this information to decide if you would be a good fit for the position and prepare to explain why at the interview. You may not be able to find all of the specifics about the job, but you should at least have a basic understanding of the job’s responsibilities.
Qualifications
Many employers have certain qualifications, or skills, they are looking for in interviewees. They may need someone with specific skills. This why it is important to view the qualifications ahead of time so you are prepared to explain why you are qualified for the job. For example, a job may require qualifications such as the following:
- Ability to work alone and with a team
- Have strong written and verbal communication skills
- Have flexibility
- Use good judgment
Remember to use past job experiences as examples of your qualifications. Did you work in a fast-paced environment before? What was it like and how did you succeed? Have you worked as a member of a team before? How did it go? How did you handle conflict? What made you a successful member of the team? Ask yourself these questions and provide honest answers using your past experience.
Education and training
In a similar way, employers may want someone who has a certain education or is trained in a special way for the job. Make sure you look at the education requirements on the application. Some jobs require a high school diploma or GED. Others may require education beyond high school, or training in a specific area. Whatever the case, be sure that you fit the expected education or be prepared to explain to the interviewer how you still can meet the qualifications of the job if you do not.
Depending on the job, training is something employers may also be looking for in their employees. Consider if you are willing to complete more education and training. If you are not willing, and it is a requirement for the job, you may want to reconsider whether or not the job is right for you.
Past experience
Think about your past job experiences and how they relate to the job. This is something to explain in the interview to show you are a qualified person for the job. If you have no past job experience, you may explain this and why you think you would still be successful in the position. Maybe you have volunteering experience that taught you skills you can apply to the job.
Again, it is important to use all your resources when researching the specific job you will be doing. A valuable person to speak with is someone who is currently in the position or someone who previously worked in the position or in a similar job. He or she may give you tips about what you would be doing or qualifications you should have in order to be successful in the job.
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