So, your resume was impressive enough to secure you an interview (whether it's in person or over Zoom). Congratulations. That's one significant milestone you've reached in your job search, but the bigger hurdle lies ahead of you. You've got to knock it out of the park during your interview, and that's no small feat considering the fact that you probably don't know the person(s) with whom you're interviewing, and there's no shortage of competition for this position. So, how should you handle this? Winging it isn't part of the plan, and the mantra “just be yourself” just isn't enough. Hell, this might not even be the only interview you have to go through since these days there might be one or two more people who want to pick your brain and pick apart your resume. We'll go beyond just the basics like:
Here are five important guidelines for the interview process:
Research the Company and the Position: If you don't know much about the company and can't communicate what the firm is about during the interview, good luck getting much further. Knowing a lot about the company's history, what they do, and who the key players show the interviewing/hiring manager that you're a good study. Understanding the roles and responsibilities of the position show that you're excited about it.
Also, make sure you can draw connections between your experience and the position for which they are hiring. Even if it's a tangential connection, communicate it well, and understand what your transferable skills are and how they relate to the position. For example, if they prefer to hire someone with a specific software application skill, and you don't actually have that experience, communicate how you're a very quick learner who has high adaptability and talk specifically about the time you became proficient at an application at a recent position and also how that benefitted your previous employer.
Be Likeable and Enthusiastic: While that might sound simple, it's actually one of the most important things to remember. No, it doesn't mean to try too hard to be funny, relevant, or overly casual. The key is to make good eye contact and smile without being creepy, don't interrupt, and also laugh a little when it's appropriate. Remember to provide answers that aren't long-winded or overly scripted.
When you're asked about why you want the job, be prepared to give a concise but convincing answer, and don't hesitate to express that you're excited about the position. No doubt, there will be others who will be vying for the position who are as qualified, if not more qualified than you. The likability factor cannot be overestimated. Nobody wants to hire someone they don't actually like. Yes, it's that important.
Conduct a Mock Interview: Almost nothing will prepare you as well as a mock interview, given that you've done your preparation beforehand. Ask a friend or a spouse to come up with 5-10 questions for you, and take it seriously. Have them sit behind a desk if possible, and answer the questions as if you're actually being interviewed.
If you happen to know the name of the person with whom you're interviewing, practice saying his or her name when giving answers during the mock interview. Don't overuse it, but make sure to incorporate it, which makes you seem more personable and draws more of a connection with the interviewer. Have your partner give you feedback afterward and take notes to correct some of the ways you can improve. Capitalize on what you did well, and use those notes to help you prepare for the actual interview.
Remember, Go From the General to the Specific: Being vague in your responses is a big no-no. If you say, “I'm very organized,” have an example ready. Respond with something like, “As a project manager, I maintained highly specific project and client files and reviewed them every day to ensure nothing fell through the cracks. This enabled me to maintain a high client retention percentage.” If you can give a concrete example, absolutely do so. Also, talk about what you can do for your employer. Be forward-looking and don't get too mired in the past. If they like you, they'll look for reasons to hire you rather than spending time focusing on your past positions.
Don't be shy about communicating specific times when you had successes for your previous employers, and provide measurable improvements in terms of saving your employers money, creating new work tools and methods that helped workflow, or helping grow revenue. Interviewers will see that you're not just about talk but about results.
Come With at Least Three Questions: A lot of interviewees fail to do this, thinking it's not important. But remember that you are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you. It also shows that you're interested. Don't ask stupid questions about how much you'll make, how many vacation days you'll get, or if breakfast and coffee are provided. Those are details that may (or may not) matter until after you're offered the position.
Remember to write down the questions, legitimate questions about the role that weren't mentioned in the job description. Don't ask about upward mobility or how quickly you'll get promoted. Ask questions that reflect a genuine interest in the company, the team, and the role. If you can connect the questions with your own qualifications, even better.
