Drive Your Career: Own the Interview

You were tapped on the shoulder to discuss an interesting opportunity. Although you hadn't been considering a move, you are intrigued. On the other hand, the team you are interviewing with is late in stage, and by all early indicators, find you to be a strong fit. The client is prepared to make a decision quickly.

How do you fast track a diligence process to ensure the time invested is valuable? Although you aren't sure this is the right opportunity for you, you want the chance for that choice to be yours. Today I share a few best practices to ensure an optimal outcome.

1. Self reflection. As an individual who is driving their own career, note advice on your your most important meeting. Proactive career management starts with reflection, goal setting, and execution on a consistent basis. This fundamental activity will have you more prepared to act on an opportunity quickly should one arise. If you find yourself starting from meeting one today, begin by assessing your career and your aspirations. Look at skills necessary to bridge those gaps, both short and long term. Know the specifics of your current compensation. Until you know what is important to you in your development, you won't have the information to determine if this move will be logical.
2. Research the opportunity. Research the technology, market served, mission, and leadership of the company. We have tools available today making a vast amount of information possible, but if limited on time before interview, focus on these four pillars. People go to work primarily for challenge and for the people they will work with, concentrate initial efforts there.
3. Your Personal Brand. What will this potential organization want to know about you, and how are you representing yourself? The resume is a small piece of the puzzle anymore. Confirm your LinkedIn profile, and all profiles in the public domain harmonize with a clear, positive view of you. Think about references and who will speak to your strengths as a leader and team member. Consider materials outside of the resume, such as a weblink or addendum specific to the organization that could be of interest. Does your personal attire represent the position you seek? What about the background in your videoconference? What are you "saying" outside of words?
4. Prepare good questions. Now that you have reflected on your career goals and done initial diligence on the company, you are equipped to ask solid questions in interview. Visualize yourself in the role. What are your opportunities? What are your headwinds? How will you work most effectively with your new team? What will measure success? Putting yourself "in the role" will allow you to go deeper with the interview, allowing the client to see you as an effective collaborator.

For both the client and the candidate, exploring each other through an interview is a valuable process. When the client has the need clearly defined, it is often the perfect time for an individual to evaluate an ideal career step. The diligence process is important on both sides to get a comprehensive evaluation of the overall fit. If you commit to an interview, ensure you are putting in the time to evaluate and prepare. Even if it is not the next step you take, you are learning more about opportunities, and yourself.