When You're Not Ready When They Call, It's Too Late

It's the interview call you've been waiting to get for weeks. The company asks you to interview tomorrow afternoon. Your anxiety rises as you realize you're not ready and don't have enough time to get ready. If you're not prepared to interview when they call, it's too late to get ready to be hired.

Most job seekers wait until they have an interview to prepare. If you're not ready when they call all you can do is read their web site, get a good night sleep and "wing-it".

Job seeker spends 30 job-search hours to get each interview and only 1 hour preparing for each interview. Most job seekers spend more time and money on their resume than their interviews. Your resume can not get you a job. Only a great interview will get you hired.

Assuming you've got good interview skills because, you're good at your job, you're a good communicator, or you're qualified will not help you get hired. All these assumptions are false. The skills to do a job are different from the skills required to get a job.

So what can you do to get ready before the company calls you for the interview?

Get Questioned & Interviewed

List the questions you expect and the questions you fear. Write your responses. Practice responding out loud. Have a friend practice interview you using the questions. Keep each response to 60-90 seconds. Ask a question after each response.

Get Your Talent Inventoried

Create a list of your talents and skills called your â€œTalent Inventoryâ€. Your skills come from work, volunteering, hobbies, school and life. Formulating your talent inventory prepares you for any question about your skills. Interview Mastery gives you downloads and templates to create your talent inventory.

Get Phoned

How will you handle the unexpected phone interview? Ask the caller to schedule a time later when you can talk privately. Schedule the call like a face-to-face interview and you call them. Ask how much time they'd like to speak and what they want to learn about you during the call.

Get Your Questions

Make a list of 5+ business focused questions you will ask interviewers. Bring this list to the interview along with a note pad.

Source: Michael R. Neece, CEO Interview Mastery

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