{"id":1691,"date":"2021-07-07T13:48:49","date_gmt":"2021-07-07T20:48:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.virtualjobsearchcoach.com\/?p=1691"},"modified":"2021-08-03T22:30:37","modified_gmt":"2021-08-04T05:30:37","slug":"how-to-prepare-for-a-last-minute-interview-interview-emergency-preparedness-kit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.virtualjobsearchcoach.com\/how-to-prepare-for-a-last-minute-interview-interview-emergency-preparedness-kit\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Prepare For A Last Minute Interview &#8211; Interview Emergency Preparedness Kit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>You\u2019ve been called for an interview \u2013 it\u2019s tomorrow or the next day and you have little time to practice or prepare. You\u2019re excited and terrified at the same time. What are you going to do?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How To Prepare For A Last Minute Interview - Interview Emergency Preparedness Kit [FREE download]\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cG7dEBSCWJY?feature=oembed\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In this article, I\u2019m going to give you my Interview Emergency Preparedness Kit with 4 items to help you succeed in your last-minute interview.<\/p>\n<p>One of my favourite mottos when it comes to job search and interview success is 75% preparation and 25% execution.\u00a0 Through all the strategies and techniques, I give you, you\u2019ve also heard me say \u201cpractice, practice, practice\u201d. However, I also understand that sometimes you\u2019re just starting out in your job search, you send out one resume and within hours you get invited for an interview 2 days later. Woohoo! Now your thinking oh no, I\u2019ve read some of these blogs\/watched some of Stacey\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/VirtualJobSearchCoach\">YouTube<\/a> videos, but I haven\u2019t had time to practice any of it yet! What am I going to do?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t pan<\/strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1621 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.virtualjobsearchcoach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Keep_calm_stamp_with_red_text_on_white_background-300x184.jpg\" alt=\"Keep calm written in red bold font\" width=\"269\" height=\"165\" \/><strong>ic<\/strong> \u2013 I\u2019ve created my interview emergency preparedness kit with some of my best tips to help you through. When you\u2019re in a pinch my interview emergency preparedness kit will supply you with the essentials.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>My Interview Emergency Preparedness kit contains 4 items which I\u2019ll teach you today: <strong>1)<\/strong> The 3 main styles of interviews to be prepared for, <strong>2)<\/strong> My \u201cAbout Me\u201d checklist, <strong>3)<\/strong> My Job Information worksheet, and <strong>4)<\/strong> Some Questions to Ask.<\/p>\n<p>My Dad taught me to always be prepared for an emergency or the unexpected and from the time I could drive, he got me to carry a backpack with a spare set of clothes, runners, food, water, and a few other necessities because I grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia where we were always warned to be prepared for a potential magnitude 10 earthquake. Thankfully \u201cthe big one\u201d never happened during my time living there but I\u2019ve carried that prepper mentality throughout my life and I can tell you some stories of where my emergency preparedness kit has saved me in some unexpected situations.<\/p>\n<p>As a Career Coach and Interview Specialist, I get numerous calls from excited and panicked people wanting last-minute interview coaching. I\u2019ll admit I cringe a little because preparing for an interview a day or 2 before, is like studying for a final exam the night before or running a 5K race without training. You aren\u2019t going to do as well as you would if you had studied or trained for weeks prior which is why I so emphatically encourage job seekers to seek coaching support at the start or even before you start their job search. However, despite the short notice, there are some things you can do even at the last minute to help you perform well and outshine your competition (many of whom I can tell you from experience haven\u2019t practiced at all and are just winging it).<\/p>\n<p>So, with my Interview Emergency Preparedness Kit you will still be ahead. So, let\u2019s dive in!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5><strong>PART 1 \u2013 Knowing Styles of Interviews to Be Prepared For:<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Alright, so there are several different types of interviews \u2013each type falls in one of<strong> 3 main styles, Unstructured, semi-structured, or structured.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Unstructured Interviews \u2013 <\/strong>This type of interview has no specific direction or pattern of questioning instead it consists of free-flowing conversation. They are often more social in nature and put more emphasis on what people like to do rather than on extracting evidence of what they can do. The interviewers rarely take notes, preferring to observe candidates when responding. The duration will be spent trying to get to know you or talking about what the interviewer knows best \u2013 themselves and the company.<\/p>\n<p>Unstructured Interviews are most often carried out by interviewers who have never received professional interview training. To increase your chances, aim to establish rapport by finding some common ground \u2013 pick a topic with which you are both familiar and remember to smile! I want you to mentally assess the degree to which you\u2019ve been able to express your skills and abilities. Don\u2019t leave the interview without ensuring you\u2019ve taken an opportunity to convey them or summarize how you see the fit between you, the role, and the team.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-1762\" src=\"https:\/\/www.virtualjobsearchcoach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Depositphotos_151249426_l-2015-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Man smiling in a job interview\" width=\"317\" height=\"211\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Semi-Structured Interviews \u2013 \u00a0<\/strong>A semi-structured interview usually contains questions that focus on what you have done in the past (often behavioural style questions) and how you could help the company in the future, rather than on personality or general areas of interest. Similar questions will be asked to all candidates. Most likely notes will be taken, or a scoring system is used to compare answers with other candidates.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Structured Interviews \u2013 <\/strong>This type of interview is designed mainly to save time and allow consensus among decision-makers. Often the human resources professional will take the role of moderator and keep the flow going \u2013 they may ask all or only some of the questions. Department heads and colleagues will focus on the skills and abilities with colleagues also focusing on personality.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of whether it\u2019s an Unstructured, Semi-Structured, or Structured style, interviewers are looking for the same things \u2013 your credibility (is the information you are providing congruent with what you have on your resume? Do you know yourself? and will you fit this company?).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5><strong>PART 2 \u2013 Complete the Following \u201cAbout Me\u201d Checklist<\/strong>:<\/h5>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1758 size-medium alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.virtualjobsearchcoach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Depositphotos_21917003_l-2015-300x188.jpg\" alt=\"Check boxes being checked off by a business man\" width=\"300\" height=\"188\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>This is what I want you to make sure you know about yourself to be prepared to speak about:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Do I know all the job titles and dates of my employment history?<\/li>\n<li>Can I recall all the education, training, and certification I have obtained?<\/li>\n<li>Can I identify my principal strengths and what I can contribute to the objectives of this role\/team?<\/li>\n<li>Do I know my \u2018occupational highlights\u2019 (accomplishments)?<\/li>\n<li>Do I have a specific example ready for each highlight?<\/li>\n<li>Do I know how to describe elements of my skills as they relate to role?<\/li>\n<li>Do I know which of my references can point out relevant strengths or unique abilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Make sure you can check each of those off \u2013 any you can\u2019t check off are the areas you need to focus on right now.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5><strong>PART 3 \u2013 Job Information Worksheet:<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p><strong>Take a few minutes to think about and answer each of these questions in relation to the specific job you are being interviewed for:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Job Title?<\/li>\n<li>What are the most important tasks of this job?<\/li>\n<li>What strengths are required to do this job?<\/li>\n<li>What is the most challenging aspect of the job?<\/li>\n<li>What can I bring to this job?<\/li>\n<li>What is a reasonable salary to expect for this job? (check out Salary.com or Payscale.com for estimates)<\/li>\n<li>What are negotiable elements?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5><strong>PART 4 \u2013 Questions to Ask:<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>This is an area where most candidates disappoint \u2013 at the end of the interview they are asked if they have any questions and 90% of people say no, I think you\u2019ve covered everything. REALLY \u2013 there are hundreds of questions you can ask about a job or a company and you can\u2019t come up with even a couple to ask?\u00a0 So here are a few ideas to keep in your back pocket.<\/p>\n<p><strong>It\u2019s great to ask questions that demonstrate enthusiasm, such as:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What is the first problem that needs attention?<\/li>\n<li>Who would I be working with? Working for? Would it be possible to meet them?<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-1757 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.virtualjobsearchcoach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Depositphotos_3110568_l-2015-201x300.jpg\" alt=\"Yellow question mark painted on road lines\" width=\"201\" height=\"300\" \/><\/li>\n<li>What qualities does a successful person need to have at this company?<\/li>\n<li>What are the training policies or onboarding process?<\/li>\n<li>What do you appreciate most about working for ABC company?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Questions that generate interest:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Why is this position available?<\/li>\n<li>What do YOU like about working for this company?<\/li>\n<li>How would you describe the corporate culture?<\/li>\n<li>How would you describe the supervisor\u2019s style of management?<\/li>\n<li>Do you have plans for expansion?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Closing Questions:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When can I expect to hear back from you regarding my application for this position?<\/li>\n<li>Is there any additional information you require?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>It is important to have a Closing Statement prepared to finish off your interview \u2013 something like this:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cIt was great to have this opportunity to meet with you and present my skills. I hope I\u2019ve answered the questions well and that we will have a chance to work together in the future.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>What you\u2019ve learned here is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to job search strategies and interview tips. To learn more, check out my YouTube channel (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/VirtualJobSearchCoach\">VirtualJobSearchCoach<\/a>), where I post new content to help job seekers like you, determine, pursue, and land their dream job!<\/p>\n<p>If you would like one-to-one coaching to equip you with the confidence, necessary tools, critical knowledge, and strategies to find and land your ideal job\u00a0 \u2013 then let\u2019s talk! You can book a complimentary 15 minute discover call directly in my calendar at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/calendly.com\/virtualstacey\">https:\/\/calendly.com\/virtualstacey<\/a>\u00a0and let\u2019s chat about how I can help you fast-track your job search success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019ve been called for an interview \u2013 it\u2019s tomorrow or the next day and you have little time to practice or prepare. You\u2019re excited and terrified at the same time. What are you going to do?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1764,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15,19,18,16],"tags":[97,71,41,96,95,102,99,100,101,98],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.virtualjobsearchcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1691"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.virtualjobsearchcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.virtualjobsearchcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.virtualjobsearchcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.virtualjobsearchcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1691"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.virtualjobsearchcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1691\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.virtualjobsearchcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1764"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.virtualjobsearchcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.virtualjobsearchcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.virtualjobsearchcoach.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}