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It’s annoying when you come home, plunk an armload of grocery bags on the kitchen counter, then realize you forgot something. And it was an important “something,” too. If only you’d made a grocery list before going to the store.
A job interview can lead to a similar experience. It’s a sinking feeling when you realize you forgot to share a relevant example from your job history (or simply weren’t as prepared as you thought you were).
Wouldn’t it be great if there was an interview prep grocery list? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered with these interview preparation tips.
Interview preparation checklist
Learn about the company
Learn a little bit about the company’s history, its values, the products and services it offers, and what it’s known for in its industry. This will help you show in the interview how your expertise and background align with the company.
Research their interview methods
It’s not fun getting caught off-guard in an interview. To limit the curveballs, do some digging on the company’s website (or do a Google search) to learn how they conduct interviews. For example, Progressive uses the STAR format (also known as a Behavioral Interview). Learn some quick tips on Behavioral Interviewing at Progressive Insurance in our video.
Connect your experience with the job requirements
An interviewer won’t know you’re the right person for the role if you can’t connect the dots between your work experience and the job requirements. Take some time to write down specific examples beforehand that tick the boxes for the position.
Create a setlist of your best hits
An interview is your time to shine. It’s important, then, to prepare for an interview by identifying your proudest accomplishments, projects, and experiences. This setlist will be your go-to hits that showcase your talent and expertise. Having trouble coming up with examples? Ask people in your network for help.
Come with questions
Expect the interviewer to ask if you have questions. Be sure to come with well-prepared questions that show you’re already thinking about the challenges and opportunities of the position. If you need some direction, learn more about questions to ask during an interview.
Prep work makes the interview work
Interviewing can be stressful. But if you do some prep work beforehand, you’ll feel more confident when the interview is over that you put your best foot forward.
Interested in learning more about working at Progressive? Learn more about what we can offer and our hiring process.
