Heading into a job interview is an important and stressful event. Even if you are the best at what you do, you cannot waltz into an interview without being prepared.
To succeed in the interview, you must research the company, search for the interviewers on LinkedIn, thoroughly read the job description to ensure you understand the requirements and update your LinkedIn profile. You’ll also need to master the art of small talk to make an excellent first impression and pay attention to the message you’re signaling with your body language.
Have questions prepared to ask the interviewer to show you’re interested. Let the hiring manager know that you want the job. Mirror the interviewer and be charming, yet authentic and genuine.
Doing Your Homework Is Essential
Try to find out about the people with whom you’ll meet. You can seek them out on LinkedIn and search for information about them online. By learning a little bit about the interviewers, you’ll be able to have enough information to engage in relevant small talk to break the ice and establish a bond.
The interview questions will be based on the job description. Ensure your résumé is in sync with the requirements. Think of your current and prior experiences and skills that can be matched with what the job responsibilities demand.
Look into the company’s products, services, mission statement and place within the sector, so you won’t have to worry when asked, “So, what do you know about our company?” Seek out people from your network who work at the firm or someone who knows an insider who can give tips on how the hiring process works.
Prepare and practice an elevator pitch to help you effectively sell yourself within 30 seconds. Role-play commonly asked interview questions with a mentor or trusted friends and colleagues. Ask for feedback and constructive criticism to improve your interviewing technique. Take a fresh look at your LinkedIn profile to ensure it aligns with your résumé, and everything is accurate. If you are utilizing the services of a recruiter, pump them for as much information about the job, corporate culture, interview process and people you’ll be meeting with.
First Impressions Count
If the interview is in an office setting, make sure you’re dressed appropriately. Check out the commute beforehand, so you’re not running late. When entering the building and meeting people, pull your shoulder back, hold your head high and walk confidently. Be polite to everyone you meet, as they’ll offer their input to human resources and the hiring personnel.
If it’s a video call, ensure your background, lighting, audio and internet connectivity are top-notch. Remember to look into the camera, but not to stare too hard. Having some notes discretely taped to the computer is okay if you need help or feel stuck.
You want to capture the interviewer’s attention from the start. Upon meeting, you can say, “Thank you for inviting me to the interview. I’ve always admired and respected your company, and I feel honored to be considered for this important role.” Then ask, “Why did you choose my résumé over all the others you’ve received?” The rationale behind the question is that it will force the interviewer to think about all the positives regarding your background, experience and good qualities that fit the role.
You want to make the interviewer like you. While people will tell you that possessing the right skills is the only thing that matters, managers want a person they feel comfortable with, find pleasant to deal with and have a positive, can-do attitude.
The Subtle Art Of Small Talk
Armed with knowledge about the interviewer, due to your research, you have an advantage. You can bring up a topic you know will resonate with the person. A good icebreaker would be, “I don’t know if you follow sports, but did you watch the Yankees game last night?” The interviewer will come to life and happily respond that they’re a huge Yankees fan and the game was thrilling.
You can then subtly bring up a few topics you already know the person is interested in. The conversation will organically go in a positive direction, and you will establish a bond.
Mirror The Hiring Manager
Interviews tend to go better when you mirror how the interviewer talks. This doesn’t mean mimicking them. For instance, as a New Yorker, I’ll slow down my cadence and smooth out the brashness in my tone when talking to someone from the South.
People like to hear their own name. Throughout the conversation, sprinkle in the manager’s name. Don’t overdo it, as it will come across as phony.
All Eyes Are On The Interviewer
It’s understandable to be fidgety and awkward in an interview, but you must suppress the tendency to shake your leg, fiddle with something on the desk, get distracted or look away from the video lens. You must offer your full attention and actively listen to the hiring manager. This interviewer is the most important person in the world to you at the moment.
A good couple of questions to ask right away to demonstrate interest and empathy is, “How can I help you? What would I need to do to be successful in this role and exceed expectations?” When you get the manager talking, it’s a good sign. The more they speak, the more invested in you they are. It’s a psychological hack. The hiring manager talks themself into hiring, thinking, “Wow, I’m really selling this person on the job. They must be really good!”
Let The Interviewer Know You’re Interested
Whether it’s an onsite or video interview, the same principles apply. Pay attention to the conversation, make eye contact and, most importantly, let the interviewer know you want the job. Many job hunters play hard-to-get and think that’s an effective formula for success. It’s not, and that strategy often backfires. Managers want a person who desires the role. They are disinterested in mere window shoppers.
Selfishly, hiring managers want someone they know will accept an offer. It is problematic if the hiring process lingers on for six months with 10 different individuals involved, only to end up with the applicant taking a pass. All the time and effort is wasted. Senior management and everyone involved in the hiring process will be irritated by expending so much time, energy and political capital only to have to start the search all over again.
Always Be Authentic
Come across as positive, motivated and enthusiastic. Demonstrate that you are a team player. Avoid putting on pretenses. Be your true genuine self, and let them know the real you.
Don’t default to acting like the stuffy, corporate drone, espousing corporate jargon and buzzwords. Be your genuine and authentic self. It doesn’t pay to pretend because they are hiring you for you. If it turns out that you are a drastically different person than you pretended to be, it will be uncomfortable once you start. Your employer will feel as if you committed a bait and switch.
Don’t say anything disparaging against your former or current boss and co-workers. When you do this, the manager will instinctively believe you will one day badmouth them when you leave the firm and interview with another company. It makes the hiring manager feel that you’re not trustworthy.
You have to win over all the interviewers with your charm and likability, in addition to possessing the right skills. Listen intently to what people say. Then you can reframe their thoughts to show that you get it and are paying close attention. Nod your head when you agree with a statement someone made that resonated with you. It demonstrates that you are both on the same page. Avoid interrupting when the interviewer is talking.
What To Say
You want to come across as motivated and enthusiastic. Tell the hiring personnel, “I’m so happy to be here and meet you. I’ve extensively researched the company, reread the job description 10 times over and spoken with many people who raved about your company. I believe my skills, background, talent, education and credentials perfectly match the opportunity.”
At the end of the interview, you need to have some questions ready when they ask, “Do you have any questions for me?” Rather than worrying about what questions to ask at the end, which distracts you from being in the present, ask genuine questions based on your curiosity and interests as they arise.
A Call To Action
As the interview is winding down, give it one last pitch. “It was fantastic to get to know you and (reference others involved with the process). It was a pleasure learning about the opportunity and company.”
Share something from the heart: “When I initially read the job description, the opportunity spoke to me. After all the great conversations, I’m even more convinced that I have all the right skills for the role and would love to come aboard.”
“It was a pleasure meeting you. I look forward to the next step” is a smart way to position yourself before the meeting ends. Then, offer, “Can you please share the next steps and who I’ll meet with for the following rounds?” The questions frame that you are motivated to get the role and subtly nudge the interviewer to start thinking about the next steps and moving forward.
Source: Forbes
