Congratulations! You have been invited to a job interview after months of searching. You are excited but at the same time you are a little anxious. What will they ask? What will they want to know? How can I shine?

Here are 5 tips to help.
Understand the type of interview that you will experience.
Is this a phone, video, or computer-generated interview?
(What is a computer-generated interview? This is one where you are asked to respond to questions generated by a computer. There is no live person interacting with you during the session. This is a timed encounter. If you are successful, you may be invited to an interview with a hiring person virtually or in-person.)

Always do your homework.
Know as much about the organization that has invited you to interview. What is their mission and vision? Be prepared to answer the question “What do you know about us?”

Phone interviews have been a standard for years.
They are screening meetings and if you are successful, you will be passed on for a more in-depth interview. Here’s what is important.
How do you come across verbally during the interview meeting? Does your voice convey energy, confidence, and verbal communication skills that match the position that you seek? (Caveat: Sales/Marketing candidates must have a different engagement than perhaps a scientist or engineer.)

How will you respond to the “Tell me about yourself “question?
Remember this question is not necessarily tell me about your life but more it asks the question, “Why should I hire you?” What skills, interests, and accomplishments can you bring? Keep this succinct.

Why do you want to work for our company or organization?
This is key. You must convince the interviewer that you value their organization and want to be a contributing part of the team.

These are some basic rules of the interview process. In the next segment of Interviewing, I will provide tips for acing the interview and getting hired.