Strong Interview Skills Alone Are Not Enough: Customization a Must to Stand Out in Crowded Field

By Bernadette Kenny

Executive Vice President

Lee Hecht Harrison

Regardless of the economy, recruiters will always be interested in talking to the current crop of college students about employment and internship opportunities. But in a tight job market, there will be far fewer posts to fill and even a sophisticated interview performance may not be enough given tough competition. Having strong, core interviewing skills is now a prerequisite. To make the best possible impression, student job seekers should customize their presentation for each opportunity.

During an economic downturn, employers likely have a glut of qualified candidates to choose from for every open position, so showing that you understand the organization and will fit right in can make all the difference. Even in a booming economy, such targeted positioning is critical for landing the job you really want. It's not just a matter of demonstrating that you've done your homework about the company - although that's important too - but also conveying that you can hit the ground running.

Doing so, however, takes some ingenuity and enterprise. For each interview, that means not only researching the company's business, financial performance and history, but also its culture and industry, how to dress and what type of manner is expected.

Although the best resource about a hiring company is a friend or alumni contact on the inside, even students who don't have connections within the organization can learn what they need to know with a little detective work:

· Really look at the company's Web site. Don't just read it for background on the organization. Pay attention to the layout. Is it very traditional or more on the creative side? Is it monochromatic or does it use many colors. What about the tone? Is there a casual, breezy character to the language used or is it more reserved? If there are pictures of the principals on the site, are they formal portraits or relaxed poses. How are they dressed?

· Dig deeper on the Internet. Search news archives, especially human resources trades, for stories that talk about the company's philosophy and culture or that profile the company's principals. Search Usenet groups to see if there is an employee community online and to see what the public is saying.

· Talk to people you know who work for competitors. People at competitors of the company you're interviewing with may know more than you'd think. Perhaps they've met people from the company at trade shows or conferences. They may have a colleague who formerly worked at the company. At the very least they have probably heard talk about what the company is like.

· Ask people in your wider network what they know about the company. It never hurts to ask family, friends, teachers and acquaintances if they're familiar with the organization. Perhaps they have personal knowledge of the company or can give you and introduction to someone who works there.

· Don't be afraid to call the company. It is perfectly acceptable to call the receptionist in order to ask about such matters as the company's culture and dress code.

Once you've gathered intelligence, the challenge is to apply that grasp of the company as you interact with the interviewer. Going into the interview you should have some idea of what you want to communicate, but

 

The above is an excerpt from The Last Job Search Guide You'll Ever Need: How to Find and Get the Job or Internship of Your Dreams, which is available for sale for $19.85 in our bookstore or $27.00 at Amazon.com but for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. This hot new book contains job search secrets of the most experienced, most knowledgeable and most respected career experts. Learn career planning, job hunting tools and tactics, interviewing, cover letter and resume writing (lots of samples!), networking, and how to find an internship. Written by 149 career experts. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

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