Aren’t we all familiar with the adage, “if we fail to plan, we plan to fail”? In job interviews, preparation is everything. You may be working for many years now but when looking for a change of career, you may still want to be as prepared as much as possible and show your best professional self during the interview.

So, before the big day, it’s good to run through these questions:-

1.What do I know about the company?

Many candidates do not know much about the company that short listed them for interview. To some, company A is just one of the five companies that had called them. So, if they screwed up this one, they still got four to go. Some job seekers started out doing this right but after a while with news of rejection one after another, they became unenthusiastic and depressed, thus stop doing it. Mistake! The more you know about a company, the better you perform.

And do not stop at the products or services the company is providing. Research as much as possible including their work culture and management philosophy. For example, are they a company that rewards loyalty or are they the hire and fire type?

With most companies having a web presence, there’s really no excuse for not knowing anything about the company. For senior positions, you may need to find out a bit more from their clients, suppliers or even competitors if you want to get the right footing into your initial interview.

2.Do I know anyone working in the company?

This is sometimes overlooked by candidates but do you know that your friend can give information, i.e., “insider knowledge” that no printing materials or websites can tell you. This is best applied when you are unemployed but use your discretion when you are employed. You may not wish to let so many people know you are looking out for a job.

3.Do I know the person who is interviewing me?

Is he the hiring authority or someone from the HR department, conducting a screening process? Again, with internet, you can conduct a google search. The search results may give you some information that can surprise you. If you are going through a head hunter, find out as much information as possible from him/her.

4.Do I know the job scope?

Did you read carefully the job description? What are the responsibilities mentioned and do you have what it takes to handle the job? It’s important that you know what it’s required so that you are prepared with answers that combine with good illustrations (say, an achievement or project accomplished) to show them that you’ve indeed got what it takes to be hired.

5.What’s the latest news about the company?

Again, check the internet. Do a google search. Is there any press release about the company recently? Did they launch a new product? Was there any lawsuit?

The above questions are not only important to prepare you to succeed in your job interview but to also avoid you being eliminated if you choose to ask them during the interview. What can the interviewer possibly think of you if at the end of the interview, you asked, “What does the job exactly required me to do?” Don’t laugh. There are candidates that did just that.