Chris A. Petersen

Strategic Thinker, Professional Speaker, and Workshop Facilitator

How to Prepare for an Interview

Prepare for an Interview

Interviews can be an intimidating, seemingly terrifying, experience, but they don’t have to be!

We’ve all dreaded an interview before, but why? Why do so many people look at interviews as if they are the worst thing ever? The answer is probably because a lot of people don’t know how to properly prepare for an interview.

Ask yourself these questions when preparing for an interview:

Have you researched the position and company you’re applying for?

Are you dressed appropriately?

Do you believe you have what it takes to do this job?

If the answer is yes to all those questions, then you shouldn’t be afraid at all!

Interviewers are not scary sharks wanting to bite you, they are regular people just like you and me, and it is their job to make sure you’re the right fit for their company.

Some questions might be tough, but as long as you are confident, the interview should go smoothly.

Always make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into – that means researching ahead of time. Some people walk into interviews without knowing a thing about the job they’re applying for. Don’t do that! The more you know about the job and company, the more impressed your interviewer will be.

Dress nicely – dress shirt and slacks for men, skirt, dress, or slacks for women. Don’t show too much skin, and don’t dress too casually. Your appearance has an impact on the way people will perceive you; for good or for bad, that is just the way our minds work. Shower, shave, make sure your hair is neat and styled, and that your clothing is appropriate. If you make an effort to look nice, you’ll give off a great first impression toward your potential employer.

Now, lastly, if you have the right skill set for the job you’re interviewing for, then you should already know you’re going to do fine. Someone walking into an interview with zero relevant experience is going to have a tougher time than you are. You’ve already got a leg up on the competition if your resume tells your employer you’ll be a great fit for the job. Just relax, show off your positive attributes and greatest strengths, and your interview will lead to a job!

Knowing How to Ask Good Questions

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Good questions bloom from the seed of sincerity. Profound curiosity is an important characteristic of all great thinkers. In order to learn and expand our universe, we must be skeptics. Socratic dialogues champion the power of asking questions. Children discover the world through questions. Innovators progress our society by challenging convention and asking if something could work. Yet, many people are still intimidated by the prospect of appearing misinformed or silly when asking questions. We underestimate the potential a question can unlock. Large or small, questions enlighten the truth within us and provide valuable insight into the human condition. Here are some helpful tips for cultivating your questioning skills to gain deeper awareness.

Don’t Be Afraid

Fear stifles the natural curiosity embedded within us. We fear making a fool of ourselves in front of our peers. We fear being incapable of understanding a concept. And sometimes, we fear the answer our question will yield. But it is this very fear that makes questions so worthy of asking. Summon the courage to question your reality and confront the growth that results from it. Knowledge thirsts for more knowledge and fear cannot parch our desire to attain greater wisdom.

Facilitate an Open Discussion

The best questions dig below the surface of a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response. They welcome all perspectives to contribute and create an intellectual melting pot of ideas and opinions. Not only does an open conversation allow you to consider the perspectives of others, but it also enables you to participate. You can observe how you translate your cognitive faculties into communicable ideas, thus enriching your understanding of the initial question as you think through it.

Ask, Listen, Repeat

We ask questions to get an answer, but why stop there? Pose questions that refuse to be satisfied by a single answer. Deplete the subject matter of your question until you’ve completely absorbed its understanding. And always listen to the answers your questions provoke with attentive ears and an open mind.

Answer Questions with Questions

Some of life’s biggest questions have no answer. Seldom can anyone claim to have a more accurate understanding of these grand mysteries and conundrums. Be content answering your most perplexing inquiries with more questions. Questioning your thinking is a wonderful exercise that strengthens critical and analytic abilities while helping you ask better questions in the process.

Questions wield the power to inform and inspire. Never pretend to know what you do not and always question what you can. Teach, learn, and grow. You have the questions in you, locate them, and allow them to blossom.

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Chris Petersen has more than 30 years of experience in the technology and the financial services industry. She is an author, Fintech strategist, speaker and an advocate for women’s leadership. For a dose of inspiration, you can follow her on Twitter, Facebook or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Why Continuing Education is Important

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We all went through high school, and many have continued to obtain college degrees. But aside from that, what are you doing to advance your education even further? Are you attending graduate school or, if you’re working, taking night classes at a local community college? Are you attending workshops at a local library or community center?

Education is important, because it’s what keeps our minds active and healthy. An active mind, is a necessary instrument that enables one to live a longer and more satisfying life.

There are various ways to continue your education throughout your life, and it doesn’t have to be difficult, costly, or even time-consuming. If you’re a mother or working a full-time job, you might feel like you might not have enough time in your day to attend classes. Education can come from something as simple as reading a book.

If you have more time, on the other hand, you can simply enroll at a community college and sharpen your skills or broaden your knowledge. It can be a good place to start, especially if you’ve never finished college. Just finishing community college can open doors to better opportunities for advancing your career, more than simply having a high school diploma could.

If you’ve already obtained a degree, you might want to consider attending graduate school for a master degree or even a PhD. These degrees take a lot of work and devotion, but can certainly give you the experience and knowledge to last a lifetime. There are now online programs available for these degrees so even if you don’t have the means to attend school in person or full-time, there’s still a way to pursue them.

Regardless of your schedule, circumstances, or bank account, there are several options for you to keep your mind active and healthy.

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Chris Petersen has more than 30 years of experience in the technology and the financial services industry. She is an author, Fintech strategist, speaker and an advocate for women’s leadership. For a dose of inspiration, you can follow her on Twitter, Facebook or connect with her on Linkedin.