5 points a candidate should keep in mind while prepping for an interview

As a part of building teams that deliver stellar results, I have interviewed several candidates over the last few years. I feel the following points can help candidates on their journeys to land their next professional role.

1. Be truthful- Almost always, the interviewer would find a way to gauge whether or not you’re being dishonest about an achievement, or whether or not you’re trying to showcase someone else’s work as your own. Transparency is a valuable asset which all hiring managers look for in a candidate. 
2. Be number-driven- Most likely, the interviewer would be speaking to multiple candidates before he/she decides to fill the positions. You would want to proactively showcase the impact that you’ve brought in your earlier roles, thereby creating an edge for yourself over other candidates. The best way to do that is to explain how you improved KPIs or defined new ones which created a substantial and positive business impact. Hence, be prepared to talk numbers.
3. Structure your thoughts- You might get a case study to solve as a part of your interview rounds. The intention of having you solve such a case would be to give the interviewer a chance to understand how you think through situations. Rather than getting to an answer quickly, focus on the method rather than the conclusion.
4. Know your journey- It is important to know what you’ve accomplished in your career thus far, and hence what you want to accomplish in the future. You’re more likely to be motivated for longer periods if you know where you’re headed.
5. Keep it simple- More often than not, the role you’re interviewing for does not require you to be a rocket scientist. The simpler your thoughts and answers to the interviewer’s questions, the more likely you are to gain a favorable decision of the interview process.