Preparation

Once you have secured the interview, you should begin to focus on interview preparation. Do not be fooled into thinking that you can simply walk into an interview and answer a few questions. The employer will often meet with several hundred candidates in order to find 5-7 potential employees. Your goal must be to demonstrate your interest and qualifications for the position. Preparation is key!

Interviewers have many expectations of you as a candidate for potential hire. You must know general information about the position for which you are interviewing. You must also be able to articulate your qualifications and interest. In addition, the employer expects for you to have researched his/her organization and understand the nature of the organization.

Many college seniors have not had the opportunity to participate in formal interviews; therefore the process may seem intimidating and complex. However, through research and practice, interviewing skills can be perfected. It is a widely known fact that the best candidate does not always get the job. Many qualified candidates are passed over due to lack of interview preparation or an inability to articulate "fit" for the position. Once you arrive at the interview stage, it is your ability to sell yourself that will help ensure a job offer. The following suggestions outline proven methods of enhancing your interviewing skills and improving your opportunities of employment.

Analyze the Position
Before you are able to convince an employer that you want to be a bank management trainee, it is important that you understand what a bank management trainee does. To gather this important information, you may start with research in the Career Resource Library. Current resources such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook and the Work section of Choices Planner provide up-to-date information regarding job responsibilities, employment outlook, educational requirements, and starting salaries. This basic research will prove valuable as you prepare to demonstrate a match between your credentials and the position for which you are interviewing.

In addition, you are encouraged to participate in an internship in a field you wish to pursue. An internship will help you gain experience and provide you with firsthand knowledge of the field.  Informational interviews provide another excellent source of gathering information on specific career fields.

Research the Organization
To begin, you must research the company or agency to determine the nature of the organization. The more that you know about the employer, the more comfortable you will feel in the interview. A demonstrated knowledge of the organization will also help convince the interviewer of your interest. In order to ascertain sincere interest, many interviewers will begin the process with a question such as, "Why are you interested in our organization?" or "Tell me what you know about our company." This is certainly not a question that you can "bluff" your way through. It is a mistake to assume you know enough about the organization without conducting any research. Only through research will you be able to answer the question with confidence. For example, you may know that Ralston Purina makes pet food, but are you aware that the company also makes cereal for humans, owns a major tuna fish company, and operates resorts and restaurants?

Through your research, you should become familiar with:

Sources of Information
There are a variety of resources that can be used to research organizations. Publicly held companies are the easiest to research for they are required by law to make certain types of information available to the public. Privately held companies do not have the same requirements and are generally, more difficult to research. To begin, consider utilizing the Internet to locate general information. There are several sites listed on the Career Related Web Sites page to help in researching companies.  Also, consider articles from trade publications. The Career Services home page will provide links to many employment databases that will include company information. Annual reports and employment brochures also provide good information for beginning research. 

There are many directories available in the public libraries to help you in your research. Among the most popular are:

The public library has business periodicals and newspapers to help you research company trends and noteworthy ventures. For Central Florida based companies, you may consider researching articles that have appeared in The Orlando Sentinel or The Orlando Business Journal. In addition, the following publications are well-respected sources of information:

Also, consider articles from trade publications, generally available through professional associations. Career Services web page lists sites for company research.

If you are interviewing with a privately held company or agency, you will need to be more creative in your research approach. If you cannot find information using the recommended methods, try identifying employees or volunteers (for nonprofit agencies) to gather information; the Chamber of Commerce may also be able to provide limited information. You may also consider talking with employees of similar organizations to gain a general perspective of the industry.

Market Your Skills
After you have analyzed the position and researched the organization, you are now in a position to review your qualifications for the position. Knowing what you have to offer is crucial. Expressing yourself clearly and concisely is a key element of effective interviewing. Self-assessment of your skills, interests, and work values will help you organize your thoughts in order to project a positive impression. A thorough self-assessment should enable you to: