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In our last newsletter, we covered some general job search guidance. In this one, we'll share some tips on how to master the interview process.
I’ve interviewed hundreds of people over the years, for roles varying from entry-level to quite senior. I’ve seen the very best of interviewees and seen others make unforgivable errors. From this experience, and my own in interviewing, here's a short-list of interview tips.
1. Prepare, prepare, prepare. Do your research on the company – their products and services, financial performance, market positioning, competition, leadership, values, etc. Do your homework on the people you’ll be meeting as well. Ask the recruiter for their names, roles, and bios if available. Look them up on LinkedIn and find common connections or areas of interest. Weave what you know into the discussion(s) you have.
2. Set yourself up to make the right first impression. Dress one step above what you think you’d be wearing day-to-day. Be 5-10 minutes early for your interview, if it’s in person. (Earlier than that is usually not good, as it stresses out the admin staff.) Be in a well-lit, quiet, appropriate setting if you’re doing a phone or video interview. Treat everyone you meet with courtesy. I’ve had to pass on very strong candidates over their poor treatment of the receptionist when they arrived.
3. Make the most of the first 5 minutes. You can’t always predict what the first few questions will be. I once had a company CEO start with, “What do you do for fun?” and it totally caught me off-guard. But do whatever you can to convey who you are, what value you can bring, and why you’re excited about the role. Convey energy in your tone and body language. It’s only natural that your interviewer will quickly form a first impression of you. Make it a positive one, and build from there. If the first impression is negative, it’s often really hard to get out of the hole you'll have dug in those initial minutes.
4. Be ready to answer, “Tell me about yourself.” If you get this question, view it as the gift it is. To be clear, it’s NOT an opportunity for you to play back the companies you’ve worked for and the roles you’ve had. That’s covered in your resume. It’s meant for you to convey all the points mentioned above, and it’s a “served up” opportunity for you to show how you can shine.
5. Know how you will answer other “typical” questions as well. These might cover your strengths, weaknesses, passions, challenges and mistakes, past job transitions, and why you’re looking for the role. Increasingly, interviewers are looking for a retelling of a past experiences, like “Tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult decision” Have your highlight reel ready, and be ready to cover any gaps in your resume or other “negatives” that might come up.
6. Stay positive. Demonstrate it in your words, tone, and body language. Don’t badmouth your prior company, manager, or colleagues. You may legitimately have faced very difficult situations. If they’re relevant to the discussion you’re having, portray them as positively as you can, and talk about what you learned from the experience.
7. Ask your questions. Most interviewers will ask you if you have any questions, usually toward the end of the interview. Have 2-3 ready that demonstrate you’ve done your homework and that offer you a chance to ask about topics that are important to you. As you progress through the process, you shouldn't be afraid to ask about things that are important to you, such as about who you would report to, hours, travel, the mix of in-office vs. remote work, etc. Unless you’re facing a dire need for a job, it’s better to ensure you’re in synch on those items sooner rather than later. And while you should definitely be ready with questions, don’t push too hard to ask them early in the interview. While interviewing is a two-way process, you don’t want to come across as overly trying to control the interview.
8. Follow-up. Despite what you might have heard or read, thank you notes aren’t superfluous, even if you said, “Thank you” in the interview itself. They also aren’t a mark of desperation. They show you care, and that goes a long way in helping you stand out from the crowd. Make sure you get your facts right (no misspelled words or wrong names) and connect back to the discussion to show you’ve given it further thought. Recruiters will often go dark after a round of interviews. It’s ok to check back in with them a week later, and a week after that, if you haven’t heard back from them by then.
These are just a few suggestions. Our team of coaches is well-equipped to give you more extensive, hands-on support for any part of the job search process, from figuring out what you want to do to negotiating an offer. Reach out to info@pathwise.io if you’re interested.
JR Lowry and the PathWise team
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