Many times, we don’t consciously think about what we need to do to prepare for an interview until we get the call that an
employer wants to talk to us about a job opening. Then all hell breaks loose. It’s a mad scramble to pull together documents
and read up about a company to be as up-to-speed as possible before heading in.

Interviews are undoubtedly one of the most difficult steps in the entire job search process.

But as a person who actively manages your career, your goal is to be keeping those target companies within your sights for
much longer time than a explicit job posting period.

Being conscious of which specific companies that would be desirable places to work can help you become ingrained in their
culture, values, needs, challenges, and opportunities far in advance of target job opening.

The idea is that by the time you actually sit down with the employer, you are ready to have an engaging, informed
conversation. You won’t be thinking about the fact that you want the job. You’ll be more interested in a give-and-take
discussion that is really a business meeting. And that’s exactly how well-prepared career managers see interviews taking
place.