In-Person Interview Tips
The following information provides essential tips that you should know when interviewing with a prospective employer.
Sell Yourself
Get comfortable with describing your abilities and accomplishments. There is no need to bloat your accomplishments or make false claims.
Your goal should be to find a job that you care about and a firm/company that you want to be a part of. If you focus on jobs like that, then the interview will be much better. You will be genuinely engaged. You will ask more questions because you are interested and not because “that’s what you’re supposed to do in an interview.”
Exceptional Preparation
Preparation is the number one thing that will set you apart from other candidates. If you are obsessed with preparing for every aspect of the interview, then you will be ready to nail it.
Research the Prospective Company/Firm
You want to know about the place you are going to work not just so that you can sound intelligent in the interview, but so that you can figure out if it is a place that you want to work at. See what you can discover about the firm/company and so you know what you are getting into.
Get to Know Someone Employed at the Company/Firm
Employees can give you an idea of what “a day in the life” is like and can help you determine if this is a place you would like to work at. Plus, if you mention your meetings with employees during the interview then you will make an impression as someone who is serious about the job. LinkedIn, Google and the company’s web site are good tools for this.
Be Familiar with the Culture at the Company/Firm
Interviewers are looking for candidates who fit in well with their community and culture. They want to be able to trust you, so show them that you display values that are consistent with their group.
Create an “I can handle it” List
If you can convince the interviewer that you can handle the job, then you will have a much better chance of getting the job. Review the job description list of required skills and experiences and think of an experience you have had that is relevant.
Develop a List of “Sound Bites”
Sound bites are short phrases or sentences that you want to make sure you say throughout the interview. These are phrases that highlight everything that is great about you as a candidate. The exact way you tell a story might change, but you will always want to include the sound bite.
Online Reputation
Everyone going through the job process is going to have their name searched. You do not need to be an internet superstar, but it is a good idea to have an online presence that puts recruiters at ease. You should be comfortable with having the hiring manager reading your tweets and browsing your Facebook pictures or you should adjust your privacy settings so that those areas are hidden.
Search the Interviewer Online
Get to know the interviewer’s background, and anything positive you can bring up in the interview such as areas of common interest, and for possible questions you could the interviewer.
Practice Interviews
Practice interviews with friends, family, or others is important because they’ll give you feedback not just on your responses, but also on body language, tone, and approach. Practices a few times to a captive audience.
Hiring Managers Usually ask Questions Related to Five (5) Categories
Your background, so that they can understand your experiences, education, and overall qualifications.
Your knowledge of the job, so that they can test your understanding of the position, their company, and the industry.
Your personality, so that they can understand your work style and social style and decide if that fits in with their company.
Your skills, so that they can get an idea of your abilities and test your knowledge and competency for the job.
Your future goals, so that they can get an idea of your career aspirations and determine how motivated you will be in the position.
Common Interview Questions to Be Prepared to Answer During an Interview
“Tell me a little bit about yourself.”
Tell a short story about yourself that describes the values you have and why you think they are important for the job.
“Why are you interested in our firm/company?”
Tell them what you know about the firm/company, about the challenges they face and the opportunities they have, and how you fit in well with that overall picture.
“Give us an example of a challenge you faced and how you overcame it.”
One solid story about overcoming a challenge will stick with interviewer long after the interview has concluded.
“What are your Strengths?”
Only mention strengths that you can back up with clear proof. Prove your strengths with numbers and percentages, not generalized statements.
“What are your Weaknesses?”
Try to pick a technical skill that is real, but mostly unrelated to your job. For example, you could say “Finance isn’t really my thing. I understand the big picture of profit and revenue, but small details and the mechanics of how it works, that’s just not how my mind works. So, I would say that’s a weakness, but it’s also a reason I’m applying for this job in marketing. I know that it leverages my strengths and steers clear of some of the weaknesses.”
“Did You and your Former Boss Ever Disagree?”
Never speak poorly about a former employer in an interview. It does not matter what the circumstances were or how bad it was, keep it positive or neutral.
“Why did you leave your Last Job?”
Be honest but also use it as an opportunity to show why this job is a better fit.
“Are you a Team Player?”
Provide the results that your team efforts have provided and be ready to back it up.
“What Books or Magazines Do You Like to Read?”
This is an opportunity to show how much you keep up with the industry, market, etc. Include some of your own personal tastes, but the hiring manager wants to hear that you read things that are relevant to the job you are applying for.
“Why Should we Hire You?”
This is an opportunity to show that you have done your research by highlighting what problems they are facing. Then, provide specific clear, concise, and confident examples of how you are the right person to help solve those problems.
You won’t be able to prepare for every possible question
Do not worry about having all the answers. It is more important to develop stories that highlight your key virtues and adapt those stories to the questions that are asked of you during an interview.
Treat everyone with Respect
Smile when you arrive at the lobby and treat everyone with respect. It is not uncommon for the interviewer to ask everyone about their first impression of you.
Remember Names
Make sure you know the name of everyone you meet and use their names throughout the interview.
Shaking Hands
Keep your handshake firm, short and professional.
Answer the Question that is Asked
Do not stray off topic and babble about unrelated areas. Share short stories that are clear, concise and to the point.
Use Time Frames/Numbers
Do not forget to mention the results that you have achieved and how long it took you to achieve them. Results are compelling, broad and general statements are not.
Do not be afraid to say that you don’t know something
It is far better to truthfully state your skills and experiences than to be dishonest. Keep responses truthful and accurate and you will put yourself in a position to succeed.
Start with a short answer and then go into more depth
Start with a quick statement that shows you understand the question and have a solid answer, then you can continue with more details and examples and go into more depth.
Find out what is Important to Them
Interviews are about both you and the employer. Try to discover what is important to the firm/company and how you can help them reach their goals. At some point during the interview, be sure to ask: “What’s really important to the firm/company within the first 90 days of me joining?” Based on their response, focus your responses on that.
Ask Questions During the Interview
Interviewers prefer to have an interactive conversation during the interview. For example, if you give an answer that describes how excellent you are at working in teams, then try to ask about the opportunities you would have to work on a team in the new position.
End of Interview Questions
You should have at least three (3) questions ready for the end of the interview
Do not ask about pay, vacation time or benefits. Ask something that is integral to how you will perform in the position. For example:
What is the organization’s plan for the next five years, and how does this department fit in?
How will my leadership responsibilities and performance be measured? By whom?
What performance expectations do you have for a good employee in this position? What would success look like?
What do you think is the greatest opportunity facing the organization/firm in the near future? The biggest threat?
Can you explain a typical project that I would be working on? What would “a day in the life” of this position look like?
Give me an example of an employee that exceeded expectations.
Now that we have had the chance to talk a bit more, do you have any doubts or concerns about whether I would be a good fit for this role?
Say Thank You - Ask for the Job
Now that you’ve learned more about the role, company, etc., express how interested and excited you are. Thank them for their time and ask what the next step will be in the process for you.
