Ahh… I have an interview! What do I do now?

You’ve landed an interview with a company. You’re nervous but excited at the opportunity. Whether it is Zoom or in-person – all your nerves are on edge. Although interviewing can be stressful and exhausting, here are some tips for having the best interview possible.

Before the interview:

1. Research the company and industry. Go beyond just browsing the company website. If they have a blog, read a few recent or popular articles to understand the business and current industry better. An interview may ask how you perceive the company position in its industry or what the competitive advantages are. Knowing more about the company than just what they do is essential and will help you formulate answers that show you took time and honestly care about the position.

2. Clarify your “selling points”  Prepare to go into the interview with 3-5 selling points in mind.  Such as what makes you the best candidate for the position. And be prepared with go-to questions that will allow the interviewer to provide more about the business, position, and culture so you can understand if the position is a good fit. 

3. Prepare answers. Many interviewers ask situational based questions. Have a few answers/stories prepared for questions such as occasions. Also, have answers for common interview questions such as the strengths and weaknesses questions. 

4. Practice, practice, and practice.  After you clarify your selling points and answers you need to practice. The best way to practice is to rehearse with a friend or record yourself answering questions and watch it back and tweak your response.

5. Looks Matter. Although many offices are leaning more towards the business casual dress code, you still want to look as professional as possible. This is where the research comes into play as well. If the company is casual, you may not want to show up in a full suit; it’s good to be safe but also know your audience. 

6. The age of Zoom.  Due to the pandemic, many interviews are being conducted via Zoom.  A few things to tweak if your interview is over video conferencing.

   1. Be familiar with the technology, make sure to download the app prior to the interview, whether it be Skype, Cisco, or Bluejeans, and do a test run.

   2.  Set up a distraction-free zone and make sure the background of your video is pleasing to the eye but doesn’t draw too much focus away from you.

   3. Be on time, but not early.  10 minutes early is great for an in-person interview but on a video conference, you could interrupt an interview before you.

   4. Dress just as you would for an in-person interview.

   5. Work on your body language and eye contact and practice speaking slowly and clearly.

During the interview:

1. Arrive/Start on time. If in-person, it is a safe bet to arrive between 10-15 minutes before your interview. If you arrive more than 15, the interviewer may feel the pressure of your arriving too early. Showing up late to an interview may be construed as not caring or not taking the position seriously. If for some reason you are running late, even by a few minutes, let the hiring manager know. Rule of thumb, if you are early you are on time if you are on time you are late. 

2. First impressions are key. No matter if it is the receptionist, an employee in the hall, or the interviewer, you always want to greet everyone with a good attitude and be polite. This includes Zoom or via phone. Creating a lasting and positive first impression can make or break an interview. 

3. Be yourself and stay focused. Be authentic, polite, energetic, and focused. You are qualified for the position you’re interviewing for, that is why you’re there no matter the method. But a huge factor in hiring is if you are a good fit for the company culture. Being yourself will show you and the interviewer if this position is the right fit, and if you would be content working for the company. Stay focused on the questions being asked. Sometimes when we talk we just ramble on due to nerves or a variety of other reasons. Try to stay on point and answer the questions in depth.

4. Ask questions. You prepared questions in the “Before the interview” phase, so now is your chance to ask them. Bring a notepad with you to write down the ones you want to ask and any questions pop into your head during the interview.

5. Sell yourself. You may not be interviewing for a sales position, but you need to sell yourself. Convince the interviewer that you are a great fit for the job. A good question to ask at the end is if there was anything that you’ve said that would give them doubt you aren’t good for the role. It may be a little bold, but it shows confidence and that you truly want this position.

 After the interview:

1. Thank you notes. Remember to get contact information from all the people you interview with or get their information. Tailor each thank you note to the specific interviewer and provide a personal touch of something you discussed. And it is okay and probably preferable to send it through email. It is more efficient and effective. And you never know now where and when those you met are working from. 

2. Follow up. In the interview, if they gave a specific timeline of when you should hear, do not jump the gun and contact the company before then. If it has been a bit of time after, reach out and discuss that you are still very interested in the position, and the next steps moving forward. 

We’ve all had great and some not so great interview experiences, but hopefully with these tips, every experience from now all will be a little better than the one before. Practice makes perfect, and interviewing is no exception. 

If you need help with your team or have an interest in career/executive coaching, leadership, and strategic planning workshops tailored to your organization, contact FutureSense at info@futuresense.com.