The Interview Strikes Back

In my previous article I outlined how most interview processes in the private sector (and particularly the technology industry) follow roughly the same process:

Step 1: Call with HR/Internal Recruiter

Step 2: 1st stage interview - phone call with hiring manager

Step 3: 2nd stage interview - panel presentation 

Today we'll be examining the all important Step 3: 2nd Stage Interview!

This is THE make or break moment that will either lead to a job offer (yayyyyy) OR a demoralising call/email saying 'let's just be friends' (ouch).

As this phase of the interview process often involves several decision makers (hiring managers or senior leaders from across the business) this is where most people, understandably, start to OVERTHINK what is actually required to be successful.

To that end, here are my top 3 tips for that final stage panel interview/presentation:

1) Be Confident - you're 80% of the way there!

'Be confident' sounds like bullshit advice, I hear you, but it's really important to acknowledge where you started in the process vs where you are now.

After applying online your CV was reviewed and then selected from a huge number of applications before being placed in the 'promising' pile.

You then spoke to HR or Talent Acquisition (nailed it) and then completed a successful call with the hiring manager(s).

That's three positive outcomes so far, and it is now safe to assume that the hiring manager(s) like you AND believe you are well qualified for the job, or they wouldn't have invited you to a final stage interview.

At this stage it's likely you're up against 2-3 other people (could be more, could be less) and for the hiring manager(s) their sole focus now is identifying the individual who best meets their requirements.

It is, therefore, important for you to confidently present who you are and why you are different/unique.

Only YOU can do that.

You need to bring your whole self to the interview and go out and give it to em!

2) Keep it simple

As mentioned above, the hiring manager(s) already like you and believe you roughly have the right skills/experience to do the job.

They are now going to choose who they like the most and who will do the best job.

I'm not suggesting 'likeability' should be a major factor in any interview process, but it usually is...

It is less important about what you present, than HOW you present it.

No manager or senior leader wants to be bored to tears by a presentation with slides FILLED with text (I actually yawned just thinking about this).

Keep it simple and remember the term: Less IS more!

My favourite presentation technique is to ONLY include one/two word bullet points, or even just images, and then talk around them.

Yes, you can read the four words on my slide, but you are going to have to LISTEN to what I say about each one to truly understand what's going on.

This is what you want in a final stage interview: ENGAGEMENT

The more engaged your audience is, and the more back and forth you have throughout, the better.

Think of it like a first date.

Awkward silences or long monologues = baaaad

Fun back and forth = goooood

By keeping it simple you guarantee a more direct presentation with higher engagement.

Finally, the last key thing to do is to....

3) Prepare

Because your slides aren't filled with text you'll need to know what you're talking about, and to have practiced your presentation in advance.

Both of these are positives and help will set you apart from the competition.

The good news is that because you will be talking through your presentation (rather than reading dense, text-filled slides which is what most people do), it will take less time to prepare.

YOUR preparation will be ensuring you touch all of the salient points in your talk track, which is where the practice will come into play.

Ask someone you respect (a peer, mentor or a specialist) to spend 30 minutes listening to your pitch and providing constructive feedback.

This will be a little awkward at first but these sessions are always valuable.

You'll get a sense of what does and doesn't work (e.g. what needs tweaking or expanding upon) and it will help build rhythm/confidence in delivering your presentation.

As recommended for your first interview stage, you'll also need to do your personal research on the hiring manager(s) or senior leaders that you haven't met thus far in the process.

Building a connection with everyone in the meeting is crucial, so you want to ensure you address the 'newbies' (often the most senior people in the room) with specific questions.

What attributes/outputs are top of their 'shopping list' for the ideal candidate? Why are these important to them? Have they had any good/bad hiring experiences in the past?

Asking the VP of any function (Product, Engineering, Sales, Marketing etc.) these questions will tell you a HUGE amount about what they value/think is important, and will give you ample opportunity to address these areas with specific examples.

In short, you'll understand the most important requirements and then address them systematically.

It is not often this straightforward in practice, but by preparing properly you can significantly increase your chance of success.

Summary

Confidence, simplicity and preparation are the three key ingredients to success in a final interview. Engage everyone in the meeting (less IS more!) and make it a conversation. Although interviewers are there to assess your suitability they also like to have fun whilst doing it (wherever possible).

Next Time

In my next outing we'll be examining salary negotiation and working towards a 'win-win' for both you and your future employer!

Cheers,

Paul

Founder, SaaSCV - more info available at https://www.saascv.com/