Preparing For An Interview

The interview process can be daunting. This article intends to outline actionable steps and methods to set you up for success!

In an interview, your main goals are to demonstrate:

Confidence - Nervous? Understandable. Square your shoulders and maintain eye contact. Give the interviewer the impression that you've been there, done that, and are capable of accomplishing the task at hand.

Competence - How well can you articulate your background to their needs and questions? Be sure to provide direct and concise answers. Use the STAR method (see further below).

Relatability - This is your ability to turn the interview into a conversation instead of an interrogation. Ask thoughtful questions and find common ground. People hire people, be likable!

Before The Interview

1. Look up Who you'll be interviewing with on LinkedIn - Send them a connect invite and take some time to review their profile. Try to learn about their interests, education, and professional background. Anything that can help you establish common ground on a person-to-person level can be powerful!
2. Research the Company - Get a feel for its culture, vibes, and mission statement. Become familiar with the history of the company and what it specializes in. Not only is it important to see if this could be a potential fit for you, but you can learn more about how to best present yourself.
3. Study the Job Description - Write Out why you're a match for each requirement/qualification. If there is something that you don’t have experience with, skip that bullet point and don’t address it. NEVER bring attention to any shortcomings, instead redirect their attention to how you’re a fast learner and capable of adapting very quickly.
4. Come up With Questions - Try to have at least 3 prepared. Build these questions around success stories you can tell that relate directly to the position. These questions should be designed to help you CONTROL part of the interview by directing the interviewer's attention to topics that allow you to shine and showcase relevant previous experiences. Example - How often do you implement/test new technologies? You ask this because you have a great story of testing and presenting a new technology to create a new process that delivered a better price position or cost savings to the company. Example: What are some of the biggest challenges your tech team is facing as you’re scaling this company? Might be a good question if you have experience with startups or contributing to a team environment that’s rapidly expanding.

The STAR Method - Situation, Task, Action, Result

Every success story you tell or question you answer should use this method.

• Situation - What was the issue/obstacle you faced?
• Task - What plan did you come up with to address it?
• Action - How did you implement this plan?
• Result - How effective was it? What changes/results occurred?

During The Interview

• Dress for success - Wear professional and appropriate attire. First impressions are essential.
• Be prepared to do a quick walk-through of your resume. Use this opportunity to point out accomplishments. Talk about any experience that relates to the position.
• If you’re asked - "Tell me about yourself", No more than 3 sentences. Do not spend the entire interview answering this question. Keep things concise.
• If this is a video/phone interview, write out Sticky Note reminders containing important points and put them around your papers or camera beforehand.
• Whether you are on a phone, video, or face-to-face interview…remember to smile. It’s been scientifically proven to change the inflection of your voice - and people enjoy speaking with people who come across as positive, engaging, and enthusiastic.
• Don’t become the Mayor of Monotone. A lack of visible excitement / displayed energy or excitement has cost many candidates. If you sound like you’d rather be doing ANYTHING else, it’s going to come through.
• Bring up points on how you can make them money, save them money, or do both!
• Be prepared to give an example of a challenge that you faced. (You should have a great mini-story for this. (STAR Method). Have 3 success stories ready by describing the situation, what you did, and the result preferably citing a $ or % number! (Metrics are VERY powerful.)
• If asked about money (they might go there) be prepared. "I am interested in finding a job that is a good fit for me. I'm sure whatever salary you're paying is consistent with the rest of the market."
• Remember you are selling a product. That product is YOU. This client wants to hear that you are interested in this position. You must sell yourself to them by telling them why you are “the person” for this job! Many times qualified candidates are eliminated because they did not sell themselves or show enough enthusiasm.
• Ask your questions during the interview, not at the end. Engage them and turn it into a conversation. This will separate you from others who are also interviewing.
• Make them smile if you can, and get them to talk about themselves. This is key to relating and getting them to like you!
• Have a strong closing statement - It is a great idea to prepare this before your interview. It will flow smoothly and you won’t be grasping for how to finish strong! Example - This opportunity strongly aligns with my background, and I can see myself making an impact on this team.

After The Interview

Always follow up with a thank you note/email. This can seriously set you apart in a competitive job market. I would recommend waiting one business day before sending this note out. And if you interviewed with multiple people, send them EACH a separate note. Take the time to once again highlight how your skills match what they're looking for.

Example -

Hi (hiring manager's name),

Thank you for taking the time to discuss the details of the (job title) opportunity with me. From our conversation, I understand that (address a "pain point" or challenge they are currently facing). I believe my extensive background in (sell yourself and address your relevant strengths) would be an asset to your organization.

I am confident I can hit the ground running in this role and I am very excited to discuss next steps. Please let me know if you have any questions and I look forward to continuing this conversation.

Regards,

(Name)

(Contact info)

Remember - A Rejection isn't A Reflection of Your Value

The job market is particularly tough right now. You might find yourself facing rejection after rejection, or worse yet, no response at all. Have grace on yourself and try to shift your perspective into viewing this as a learning lesson. If you do receive a rejection, don't be afraid to ask for feedback. Most people aren't "good" at interviewing without practice.

Keep track of your applications in a spreadsheet and follow up 3 days, 1 week, and 2 weeks after applying. Recruiters can be inundated with resumes and there's every chance yours may have slipped through the cracks. Continue to build your LinkedIn network and establish "warm" connections with hiring managers. Best of luck in your job search - I believe in you!