You’ve landed a great job interview. You’re excited—and nervous. Now what? The best way to diffuse any interview anxiety you may feel is to prepare.

• Research information about the company.

• Study the job description to prepare talking points about your qualifications.

• Find contacts who know the company well and reach out to them through LinkedIn, your URI alumni contacts, and RhodyNet’s career mentors.

So far, so good. But there is another important, and often overlooked, part of the preparation process. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking the only reason for the interview is for the employer to learn about you. The interview also gives you the opportunity to learn what you need to know about the organization and position.

An important step during interview preparation is to craft questions that will give you the information you need. Make this your interview. Asking questions that focus on the organization’s needs, how it defines success, and the employee traits it values will both inform you and allow the employer to see you as interested in making a solid job choice.

Here are some sample questions you might consider asking in an interview.

• Take me through a day in this role. What activities can I expect to engage in daily? What are some curveballs I can expect to experience?

• Will I interact across the organization with other functions? What will trigger the interaction?

• What traits do you most value in an employee?

• Describe your team. Who will be my key partners and what will they expect from me?

• How would you describe success for the new hire in this role in three months, six months, and one year from now?

• What are your top three expectations for this role?

• What is your leadership style?

• How long have you worked here and what do you value most about this organization?

For additional information on interview preparation, visit the Career Services website or contact Marie or Karen to talk about the interview process.