I'm getting ready for a business interview.?

Question

I'm a sophmore at nyu and i'm currently getting ready to do interviews with business firms. Is there anything that i should really look up and memorize before I go to the interview? I know some things to keep in mind are the current interest rate and basic microeconomic knowledge. But is there anything else that I should prepare for beforehand? Thanks.

Answer 1

You need to research each firm individually!! They don't just want to hear about what you've learned so far. They want to hear why you are interested in THEIR firm specifically.

Do some background research on each one. Find out when they started and what their innovations have been. What direction are they going in the future? Why you would be a good member of their team to help them get there? Find these things out and answer these questions and you'll do fine.

Answer 2

GOOD LUCK!

Just some tips, if you don't mind (and they may sound silly...)

1) Not too much cologne or aftershave--it puts people off when they can "smell" you 10 minutes before they actually see you. I knew someone who was FIRED from his job because he wore too much aftershave! Bad breath is also a "no-no". I'm sure you already know that, though...

2) If you've had any "small" jobs (after school or summer jobs) tell WHY your presence at that job made a difference. Example:if
you had a summer job in a store that sold widgets, HOW did you increase the sales? It's easy to say that sales increased when you joined the staff, but how did YOU increase the sales? Get the idea?

3) BE YOURSELF! Putting on a fascade is hard to maintain after you've been with the company a few weeks. And it shows that you aren't always sincere, so be HONEST and be yourself. Since you are a sophomore, nobody will expect you to be Donald Trump!

4) Be enthusiastic. No one wants to talk with someone who appears bored or "above" them.

5) L I S T E N to THEM when they speak. P A U S E before answering questions instead of jumping in immediately. It looks like you are seriously considering their question and that is flattering to them.

6) Practice in front of a mirror the night before that you are already speaking with them. Role play with a few friends--they can "interview" you.

7) VISUALIZE, mentally, the whole interview. Tell yourself: "I have the job and this is how I will get it".This is really effective.

8) When you shake their hand, before and after the interview, look them in the eye; make the handshake firm, smile pleasantly. Sounds like a "no-brainer", right? You'd be surprised how many people get flustered and don't do those simple things. I know people who have been hired simply because they had a great handshake. It can inspire confidence.

9) Do some homework on the company, but don't be a "know-it-all". Potential employers like to brag about their company, and you are, after all, in THEIR sandbox.

10) The MINUTE you get out of their building, go and write them a nice, BRIEF "Thank You" note! NOT an e-mail--a real live, handwritten, personal "Thank You" note. Hardly anyone does this anymore, but it really does make a good impression. My application was approved and I was hired for a job because the office manager liked my "Thank You" note! Amazing.

I predict that you will do a marvelous job and the best job for you will be yours if you want it; I feel it in my bones.

Now go out and go get 'em, TIGER!

Answer 3

The interview comes first. Are you prepared when they ask you "Where do you see yourself in five years"? You can have the all the knowledge in the world about your particular subject. A bad interview can be crushing. So, I suggest not only know the material, brush up on the common interviewing techniques. The common interviewing skills can be overlooked if you are concentrating more on what you know about your skills. If you are confident on your skills. That's good. Go back and brush up on your interviewing techniques also. They sometimes get overlooked when someone is overly confident on their knowledge about a certain task they have been educated in. That's why I stress the interview COMES FIRST.

Answer 4

Bring a clean resume and a list of references (just in case). Be prepared to ask a few questions at the end of the interview as well (not too many though - and don't even ask about salary, or other benefits until the second interview!). Here's a website to check out ideas:
http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/skills/interview/questionstoask/

Answer 5

You should research the history of the company with whom you are interviewing and read any business journals or news articles to determine that particular company's products/services/business philosophy.