You’re going into an interview. How can you prove you know the industry?

Having a clear understanding about the company is a must before appearing for the interview. 1. What company is doing? Their business? 2. What is their purpose? Vision, mission, values, culture, reputation and customers. 3. What are the challenges the company is facing? 4. What is their outlook for future? This information can be obtained from the company website, balance sheet, connecting with employees, LinkedIn, etc.

Industry Insider: Showcasing Your Knowledge in Job Interviews. - Researching the company's history, products/services, market position, and recent news demonstrates your industry knowledge and your interest in the organization. - Discussing current trends, challenges, and innovations within the industry showcases your awareness of broader industry dynamics, positioning you as a valuable candidate with a finger on the industry's pulse. Demonstrating a deep understanding of the company and the broader industry landscape can significantly enhance your credibility and competitiveness in job interviews.

Get up to speed on current and emerging trends that are or may impact the industry in the near future. Go a step further and think through some of the ways you would approach addressing challenges. You are then in a position to ask thought provoking questions in the interview that demonstrate your understanding of company challenges and the wider industry.

Before you research the company, become clear on your desired outcome. Often, the more we try to prove ourselves, the more people question our motives. So approach the research with clear objectives, and from a place of curiosity. If you want to work for this company, it is only natural that you do your due diligence and learn more about their culture, their mission, their values, their challenges. Then focus on what role you could play in helping them overcome their challenges.

It is imperative that you research the company before walking into the interview. It is equally imperative to know about their competitors as well. Also it isn't only about researching the services of an organization and a bit of their team members but also about their latest trends and initiatives and where they are headed terms of mission and vision. In order to be even more specific, narrow your research around the role you are applying to or have been identified for.

Market conditions are changing fast and what seems trending yesterday, is already old news a few weeks later. I noticed however that often people jump on this trend wagon when there is a lot of hype about a certain topic. What I would recommend is to indeed understand the trend, but never loose sight of the helicopter perspective. Don't let short term events impact your long-term strategic insights. You need both, but approach it from a helicopter vision first - and be clear on where your personality, character, expertise and experience fits in this picture. A lot of people share the same knowledge, but few turn that knowledge into actionable strategies through their unique contributions. So stand out by understanding your role.

From experience, I love the STAR method. It is a practical and helpful framework to provide structured answers, and still improvise while being yourself. For example, you can make a list of past achievements, experiences and events and write them out using the STAR method. During the interview, no matter what questions you are asked, you can use these examples as a risk reduction strategy. By answering authentically, you can back your answer up with relevant examples. Now you are decreasing any doubt in their mind why you are the ideal candidate for the position.

If I have a last word to leave my client with before stepping into a job interview it will be : Relevance. By that I mean relevant yet quantifiable achievements that could add value to the role you are being interviewed for. You are going to be hired more for your proven track records and a bit less for your real potential that is yet to be unleashed. There need to be not less than 70% relevance match. Make sure you show case the same in a subtle manner.

I am not sure if you should focus on asking smart questions, because you may come across as 'inauthentic' as you are trying to prove your intelligence. Focus on relevant questions, and remember interviews are a gateway for building partnerships. You too have a lot to bring to the table, so don't discredit yourself. One of the questions that works well, and shows you care about the company and about what you can do to help them overcome specific challenges is as follows: "Six or 12 months from now, what would be the top three successes that the ideal candidate will have accomplished? It shows you care also about their points of view, and it helps you reflect whether you are on the same sheet of music.

La realización de preguntas estratégicas en una entrevista de trabajo por parte de los candidatos es crucial, siendo una excelente oportunidad de demostrar compromiso y preparación. Investigar el mercado y comprender el contexto específico de las empresas a la que se postula evidencia un interés genuino por las oportunidades laborales, algo sumamente valorado por las organizaciones. Las preguntas que los candidatos formulan proporcionan información muy valiosa al entrevistador sobre su capacidad de análisis, su comprensión del panorama empresarial, su pensamiento estratégico y su nivel de idoneidad para los puestos de trabajo.

I am aware it is an interview yet asking the right questions is in fact extremely recommended. Where is the company headed at? What are the areas of growth outside the job description? These questions might either emerge in the spur of the moment but also they can be part of the research you do before the job interview.

Remember that the difference between confidence and arrogance is humility. This helps you show up in your fuller potential, while not feeling inferior or superior than any one else. Also understand their organisational culture. Organisations who have high power distance, value the hierarchal chain. It does not mean that you should feel insecure because you can't access the boss of your boss, but it means they value the leadership structure that is in place. Those with low power distance are more likely to adopt a flat matrix organisation, where hierarchical relations are less valued.