Part 3 of 5

Preparing for the Interview

In order to excel in an interview you need to prepare.   This begins with how you would answer the 3 Whys.  The 3 Whys are:

1. Why is this job a perfect fit for you?
2. Why is this company your top choice?
3. Why does this industry excite you?

In order to provide great answers for the 3 Whys – research is critical.  Being able to successfully answer the following questions will go a long way to building confidence on the 3 Whys.  This ties back to the section on Research but gives you more specific detail on what you should know.

POSITION

• What are the critical and preferred requirements for the position?
• How do your strengths meet or exceed the requirements for this position?
• What did Glassdoor say about the interview process of this position?
• What does success mean to you and how does the company measure success in this role?
• What are the unique attributes you bring to this position?
• What will you say if asked, “Why should we hire you over our other candidates?”
• What do others (alums, contacts, and friends) who have done the job say about how to succeed in this role?
• What are the salary expectations?

COMPANY

• What do you know about the company?
• What is the current stock price (if a public traded company), profitability, sales volume or market positioning?
• What is the company’s work culture?
• What are the major product lines (or services) of the company?
• What is the company’s strategic mission?
• Who are the company’s major competitors?
• What are the company’s business trends over the past 2-3 years?
• What are analysts saying about the company’s future?
• What have you noticed about the company in the last 2-4 weeks – research web-based news?

INDUSTRY

• What excites you about this industry?
• Who are the major players in this industry?
• What major threats do you see on the horizon for the industry?
• What are the business trends of this industry over the past 2-3 years?
• What are the forecasted projections for this industry over the next 3-5 years?
• What major mergers or acquisitions have you seen lately that have affected our industry?
• How has globalization affected this industry?

 

We are teammates and fellow “B” Association members and we share a special bond built on sweat, blood and effort through our collegiate career.  If you have career questions, please let me know and I will do my best to address them directly with you or to include it in future segments. 

Sic ’em Bears!

Ken Buckley
Football Letterwinner 1977, 1980
“B” Association Board Member

Kenneth Buckley is the Assistant Dean for Career Management – Baylor Business School.  He has 10 years with Baylor overseeing undergrad and graduate career management for the Business School and is responsible for career development, employer engagement and career placement including 9 years of classroom experience teaching career classes for BBAs and MBAs.  Ken is also a published author in the career field, 2^nd edition College to the Career You Love by Kendall Hunt Publishing.  Prior to Baylor, he spent 24 years of progressive management experience in the technology industry with start-ups and large public companies.