How to Prepare for an Interview

Preparation for an interview is crucial to land a consulting role.  Once your interview is confirmed, take time to prepare and rehearse for it.   

Understand the job requirements and review the job description

Study the job description for knowledge and skills required.  There may be skills included on the job description that you can expand upon your interview, such as your ability to work in a team environment, with little or no direction, or that you have an outgoing personality.

Do research on the organization

Being educated about the company will allow you to communicate knowledgeably during the interview.  Some things you may want to learn about are the history of the organization, how many employees they have, its position within its respective industry and recent media releases. 

Your Resume

Have your resume printed and handy.  Be sure your resume is updated so that it reflects experience and skills that speak to the requirements of the desired position, such as curriculum development on a certain subject matter or your facilitation experience. 

Practice your responses

Before attending the interview, make a list of questions you anticipate that may arise in the interview.  You may want to write down a few notes on what you want to express in the interview such as particular skills or experiences.  Be prepared to answer questions about your previous work experience, in particular “behavioral” interviewing questions (e.g., describe a situation where you had a tight deadline to meet and how you made it happen).  Be ready to answer questions about your strengths and weaknesses and how you have strived to improve yourself. 

Golden Rules for Interviewing

1.     Know the job description and the company.

2.     Be prepared to give an articulate and concise overview of your relevant L&D experience.

3.     Listen to the interviewer’s questions closely.  Be complete in your answers, but be concise.  Avoid unnecessary digressions or any personal or editorial comments.

4.     Be prepared to emphasize your experience with the key requirements for the role, including skills, type of L&D experience and industry vertical knowledge.  Bring relevant work samples.

5.     Avoid providing abbreviated responses just because you were asked the same question by the previous interviewer.  Give each interviewer the attention he/she deserves and provide them with complete responses.  In many cases the interviewers share notes and compare responses throughout the decision-making process.

6.     Interviews go both ways.  Prepare a list of thoughtful questions to help you determine if this opportunity is a good fit for you.

7.     Most importantly, even if you are not quite sure about the fit, end the conversation with a statement that exhibits your interest in the project and the role.  Ask them for the timeline of decision making. 

« go back to all articles