Feeling overwhelmed with the interview process? Here are 3 golden tips to succeed.

People are frequently asking me for advice on how to present themselves or their resumes when participating in job interviews.

Well, the first answer is, each case and each interview is a different story and should be treated like that. However, there are a few tips that could be used as a “rule of thumb” when preparing for those moments that could be decisive for your career. Here are my favorite 3:

1.     Study the company you are being interviewed for

I have conducted many interviews throughout my career, and those I can always remember of are the ones where the candidates surprised me with their great knowledge of the company. They knew absolutely everything from the company vision to the most recent products, and the manager’s profile. Some of them even had suggestions for new products. I remember how impressed I was – and that is because every employer wants to feel that you are deeply interested in what they do. Show the company you are motivated enough to be curious about the company and its goals.

This preparation is also good for you. Similar to when you are buying a new car, you need to know the features, quality, testimonials…. we are in the era of information and social media and everything is there, from the company’s DNA to employees’ testimonials and even some of the most common interview questions. By accessing all that information, you will know what you are “buying.” Do you like what you see? Do you feel identified with the company vision, products, employee feedback and culture? In other words, does it fit you?

Make sure to use some opportunities during the interview to show what you know. This is something the company expects and it leaves a great impression- it’s basic homework.

2.     Think about how you can solve the hiring manager’s problem

 “What’s in it for me?”

This is one of the most relevant questions I have learned on the B2B business, and the same theory could be applied here. Think about it: the hiring manager is dedicating time and effort on this interviewing task; this shows that he has a problem: finding talent that will help them “solve” a challenge at their current organization and job. It could be growing sales, re-positioning products, reducing mistakes- whatever it is, try to identify it (from the job description, or by asking smart questions about that during your interview, like, “What is the department’s biggest challenges today?”).

After you have identified what the “big issue” is, it’s an opportunity for you to present how you think your skills can contribute to the job. This is the basics of any consultative selling technique: identifying the “points of pain” and trying to solve them . You are there to convince them that you could be the pathway to the solution.

Also, look back on your past experiences and focus on the leanings that could bring the right skills to help in your position. This can be reflected on your resume and when you talk about what you bring from each one of your past experiences.

Show that you can promote change: add constructive suggestions on how some issues could be improved or how you helped a similar situation be solved in an innovative way. That’s called “critical thinking,” and companies are desperate for people with those skills.

 3.     Be yourself

Feels tricky if you think about the complexity of an interview preparation, right? Nope. The suggestions above shouldn’t be memorized like a speech, but incorporated in your own style and personality. Taking a moment before the interview to research the company, identifying their possible challenges and reviewing the moments you helped to promote change and helped to solve similar issues are all part of your mental preparation. However, never build a story that doesn’t belong to you, because then they will buy a “character,” not yourself, and this is a pathway to disaster. You can pretend in an interview but not every day in your job. On the other hand, if you can be yourself and incorporate the preparation tips, you will leave the interview room with a complete sense of “mission accomplished,” and if you are the “one,” you will make sure the company bought the best of your own version - and that is called success!

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Keywords: #workplace, #jobinterviews, #futureofwork, #career, #humanresources