Drive Your Career: 10 Interview Commandments for 2020

A brand new decade. You have been invited to visit a company with an opportunity that could be your next career move. It has been years since you interviewed. The job search process has changed dramatically.

Are the rules of interview engagement the same in our evolving world?

The good news is the intention behind preparation has not changed, yet the tools available today allow for more robust diligence. With that said, let’s discuss our top ten commandments of preparation for an in-person interview.

1- Thou Shall RESEARCH THE OPPORTUNITY

As soon as you hear of an opportunity that piques your interest, start conducting research. The more you discover, you will be pulled closer, or pushed away, from a potential opportunity. Focus research in areas our firm calls the Four Pillars- The Product (or Service), the Marketplace, the Leadership, and the Mission. Know as much as you can about each of these pillars, as this research will also prompt necessary interview questions. Keep notes about what you discover in an organized manner. You may refer to these notes in your meeting, as this is a strong signal of your studious approach and sincere interest.

2- Thou Shall MARKET YOURSELF

Show the team why you are an asset. If you go in suggesting you are only "exploring", you may not get invited further into process. Understand what the problem is the company is looking to solve with this hire, and be prepared to speak to why you can be part of the solution. This exercise will freshen examples for you to use in discussion in an interview.

Bring a copy of your resume, enough to offer one to every person on the itinerary, and something to leave behind. An addendum, or a “Why Me?” document, targeted to a particular functional area is a powerful move. A working draft business plan, outlining the first 30, 60, and 90 days in this new position can stimulate dialogue. Documents can be either hard copy or shown electronically based on you and the preference of your audience. Demonstrate to the interviewer that you have put time into preparation and want to offer deeper insight into your credentials.

Functional specific recommendations:

• Sales- Documentation associated with achievements, a “brag book”
• Engineering/R&D- Diagrams or images of products you have designed, anything non proprietary that can stimulate discussion
• Creative- Digital portfolio of your work, any recognition or accolades
• Quality- Writing samples/documentation skills, notation validating outcomes
• Regulatory- An outline of product approvals and the role you played in the success
• Clinical- An addendum list of trials, enrollment size, and the end result
• Business development- Deal sheet- M&A activity- involvement and in what capacity 
• Marketing- a draft business plan on how you would address the market challenge
• C-Suite- The top 5 experiences have primed you for this opportunity- successes, scale and timelines, deals, growth numbers, team development, and obstacles

3- Thou Shall DRESS THE PART 

What is the dress recommendation in the new age? Fortunately, media gives us a better sense of the culture of a new organization, through the website and content available. The professional, conservative attire is a safe bet. Dress for the role you want, the interview team should envision you in this position. Investing in what to wear to the interview is a direct investment in your marketing campaign. Stay away from distracting colors or jewelry, heavy cologne, and scuffed or uncomfortable shoes. The way you dress is visual representation that you respect the process and are taking the interview seriously.

Startups are often extremely casual. Ask the person arranging the interview if a suit is appropriate. If they suggest otherwise, relax what you wear but be mindful of making a solid first impression.

4- Thou Shall REHEARSE THE BASICS

There are a few questions you should assume you will be asked:

Why are you interested in us?

What was your greatest career accomplishment? 

What was your biggest obstacle and how did you get through it? 

How did you impact the success of the organization? 

Give me an example of how, where, what, or what in regarding your experience and what we are looking to accomplish.

Behavioral based interviewing is a common interview style, here are some expanded examples.

5- Thou Shall BE PROMPT

Arrive 15 minutes early.  Drive to the facility prior to the day of the meeting. It will give you a sense of commute, and helps you avoid surprises that could cause delay. Decide early in the process if the daily commute is intolerable.  Working remotely may be possible, but don't put off that discussion.

6- Thou shall make a POSITIVE IMPRESSION 

From the receptionist to individuals in the hallway, make a good impression. A warm smile, eye contact, and friendly greetings go a long way. People instantly judge others within 20 seconds, without intention, by the way the interaction makes them feel. A solid, confident handshake with solid eye contact and a smile will start the meetings with a positive tone.

7- Thou Shall be an ACTIVE PARTICIPANT 

Get down to business. Don’t ask about pictures, kids, travel, etc... It’s cliché and may start things on the wrong foot with an impression of time inefficiency. Show your appreciation for the opportunity to meet and her time, and open with something along the lines of:

“Thanks for the opportunity to meet today, Ms. Interview. I am impressed by what I have heard so far about the company and the opportunity. As you think about this role, what do you see firsthand as the primary reason we need this function on the team?"

If you ask this question to each person on your interview itinerary, you will likely get different answers. This data allows you to frame your qualifications around the most important topics to each individual. Be mindful of time, you need to use the 30-60 minute discussion to hone in on topics of priority to the person in front of you.

 8- Thou Shall TAKE NOTES 

Take notes as if you are in a meeting problem solving about a work-related challenge. That is EXACTLY what is happening in an interview! Note the most critical points of the position that are mentioned, and confirm you have addressed each in the interview sufficiently. 

9- Thou Shall ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

 In keeping our focus, the goal of this interview is that the client wants you. It doesn’t matter if you are sure if you want them yet. You will have time to ask questions and figure that part out, but ONLY if they want you. Ask questions that have a positive connotation, and leave out others for now. Use “we” not “you”; put yourself on the team. 

Ex. “What are OUR greatest challenges in this role for the first 30 days?” 

Do NOT ask about compensation, vacation, time off, or flex time. When asked about your expectations on salary, state where you are today.  “I am at $125,000 today plus 20% bonus target.” I understand this is a tabu topic in many states, but it is an important data point to both sides, and it serves all to get it on the table early. I do not recommend giving a number on what you will need to accept the role, as that is typically driven by your interest level. Although important, compensation should not be the primary reason you are interviewing.

10- Thou shall CLOSE THE MEETING

The person interviewing you wants to know you are interested. Confirm this as you close the meeting. In the simplest form, “Tom, I have really enjoyed my day here at NewCo and I would love to work with you.  Is there anything else I can share about my background that will make you confident in my candidacy for this role?”  Or, “Thank you for a very good day with you and your team.  Before I leave, I just want to let you know how confident I am that I could be successful in the role and how much I would enjoy working with the team. What are the next steps?”  

Secure email addresses of those you meet, business cards or from the person who set up your itinerary. Send an emailed “thank you note” confirming your interest and appreciation within 24 hours of your interview. 

Last Words of Advice

With all the technological advances, we have robust ways to research and prepare for an interview. The fact remains, the interview is about people getting to know each other. Regardless of your credentials, this interview panel will want to evaluate whether or not they can work with you. Are you easy to engage in discussion? Can you listen and respond appropriately? Does your body language show confidence and trustworthiness?

Preparation for an interview can be a daunting task. The fact remains that if you do not do well on this interview there will not be a decision for you to make. The interview is a forum for you to showcase your skills, not just to a company, but to a panel of additional market players. This could be the first step to a dream career opportunity, or the beginning of relationships that could lead elsewhere over time. Maximize your day and reap the benefits of a successful outcome.