Here’s a sneak peek into some of what I’ve taught and co-presented about interviewing over the years… these are a few of my favorite insider tips.
Prepare to answer “best-fit” questions…
By the time you get to the interview, the potential employer should already have a good idea of what you CAN do. Now they want to know if you FIT in.
Figure out what competencies and aptitudes you have to offer. Skills are important, experience is important, but when it comes to the interview, they mostly want to know how you fit in with their culture and their company’s initiatives.
Prepare to answer their “best-fit” questions. These often come in the form of competency-based questions, aka behavioral questions. You’ll recognize them by the way they usually begin: “Tell me about a situation when you…” or “Was there ever a time in which you…” The idea behind using these best-fit questions comes from the theory that what you’ve done in the past could very well predict what you’ll do in the future. Basically, they help the interviewer discover how you think and behave. Then they’ll be able to make a reasonable guess as to how you’ll fit in with the way everyone else thinks and behaves at the company.
Before the interview…
Before the interview, do your research. Ask for the names of the people who will be hiring you, and do an internet search. Look up the company’s website and pour over everything. See if the company has a profile on LinkedIn. Check them out on Yahoo Finance, and see if they’ve been written about in online business news sources.
See if you know anyone in your network who knows anyone at the company. If you’re the bold type, it would be smart to pick up the phone or send an email asking those who know something about the company to share their insights with you. But at the very least, do your online homework.
During the interview…
During the interview, have a list of a few intelligent questions ready that you can refer to. In one survey, recruiters responded that the number one thing that turned them off about a candidate is if he or she didn’t ask questions.
During the interview, be especially attentive to finding out what is needed in the position. Many candidates are single-minded about pitching what they can offer, and they miss the point of what the manager needs in the position. You want to be the stand-out candidate who expresses a desire to help make a difference instead of being all about “what’s in it for me.”
Other mistakes to avoid…
Never forget that everyone you encounter with the company could potentially provide feedback to the person who has the power to hire you. Especially never mistreat the person at the front desk!
While I wouldn’t necessarily say “never” to this, I would strongly advise against accepting an interview for first thing on Monday morning or on Friday afternoon. By the way, studies show that executives are 83% more likely to hire in the morning.
Never finish an interview without expressing your interest in the job if you are, indeed, interested.
Never forget to follow up. Your chances of getting hired go up exponentially when you do. And, definitely, never forget to send a thank you within 24 hours after the interview.