Want the job? Interview preparation is key!
Manager advises on how to prepare to make an outstanding impression and stand out the crowd
As a manager, I have conducted dozens of interviews for a wide variety of jobs. What I have seen are such immense differences in the candidates. There are worlds parting them away. I have evaluated candidates with many other decision makers in different companies after the interviews and identified the key points that will determine whether the job is yours. In my article series i will reveal what i have learned and this article will be about the preparation for the interview.
You got an invitation to an interview? Perfect! Now you have to show that you are burning to do this particular job at this specific company where you will have the interview. You need to show that you’re excited about the job, that you’re serious about it, and that you’ll be valuable to the company later on. So what art secrets to becoming one of those applicants that every employer wants. If you take these 7 tips to heart, employers will apply to you and you will definitely be the game.
Preparation is key.
1. Check your application again
You have already cleared the biggest hurdle, your application has led to an invitation. But do you still remember what you wrote? Did you already set priorities in your application that exactly fit the advertised job and make you stand out from the crowd?
Did you perhaps try to show off a little? Let’s say for example, you wrote that you are interested in the stock market but in fact you don’t know anything about it. Then it’s not time to learn something about it and find out about current news and how the stock price of the company you applied to is doing, what have the latest financial news been?
Or did you brag about great interest in technological developments? Then you should know at least the current hypes in overview. Everything you have highlighted can be the subject of the interview, especially if it is relevant to the company or the job.
If you did not mention enough specific knowledge in you application, it’s important to do it now in the interview.
How to write a perfect outstanding application I will write in another upcoming article in my series.
2. Check organizational framework
When you are invited to an interview, you have the opportunity to show yourself and especially your value to the company and the specific job. Do it as soon as possible. You will get suggestions for an appointment or will be ask to make some. In any case make an appointment that you can keep. As early as possible, because once a suitable candidate is found, the following candidates have a hard time. Sometimes several people are sought by different departments in the company. Those managers who have found a suitable candidate here may get out of the search. So try to make an appointment for an interview as soon as possible that you keep your chances high. Besides, this shows your unconditional will to get the job.
Content Preparation for the interview
If you really want a job in which you want to spend the next years, possibly make a career, then make an effort for it. Take a few hours, or more if necessary, to prepare the best. You have a few minutes to convince people about you, and most hiring decisions are made during the interview.
Your qualifications, degrees and grades can be as good as they are if you can’t convince the hiring manager that you are the right person for the job in the company.
3. Check your social media presence
This tip is not particularly new. Nevertheless, it is always underestimated how often decision makers google themselves again for the person. Here, the job profiles in LinkedIn and other portals are especially important.
4. Know the company
What do you know about the company? Employers value being wanted as well. They will try to find out in the interview if you just wanted any job or if you really want to work at the company.
To prove that, you should know a few things about the company, even if you don’t have to know everything. But it is often impressive for the interviewer if you know the following things.
- Key data about the company (when was it founded, how many employees does it have approximately, in which regions does it operate, a few important locations, what is the annual revenue approximately?
- What is the company’s product range?
- What are the company’s core values? Is it particularly committed to social or environmental responsiblity? Is diversity a top priority. If these aspects are in line with your own attitude, this is a good reason why you would like to work for the company, which you can mention with enthusiasm in any case. But be careful. If you are fibbing here and only pretend to be interested in ecological aspects, then a question about what exactly you are interested in could get you into trouble. If the company does not represent your values at all, you should ask yourself whether you really want to spend your future there.
- Check the latest press releases of the company: What is the company currently doing? If you know a few examples here, you can impress and score points.
5. Have a clue about the job
The next very important point is the specific job you are applying for. It’s hard to believe, but time and again, applicants have little idea of what their future job would be like. So if you don’t know exactly what a “Product Owner” or a “Supplier Manager” does, then inform yourself extensively beforehand. Managers often ask applicants what they imagine their future job will be like.
If you’re still unclear on the details, Google it.
Also read the specific job description you have applied for again. Especially if you had sent several applications, it is easy to get confused about the details. However, the decision-makers should get the feeling that you don’t want just any job, but that you are on fire for exactly the job they have advertised.
6. Search for information about the participants
If you know the names of participants of the interview, google them, check them on LinkedIn but be careful not to use your own LinkedIn profile because they would see your visit! What can you find out about the background of the decision-makers? However, if you did, don’t mention it in the interview unless you are explicitly asked. If it comes up, say that you always like to go into interviews well prepared and like to know something about your counterpart.
7. Prepare yourself for standard questions
There are a few evergreens of questions that come up again and again and that you simply have to expect. Think about answers in advance. Don’t memorize them too much, though, because you don’t want this to be too “shot from the gun” in the interview.
The most important questions are:
- “Tell something about yourself and why you are right for the job.” Emphasize relevant aspects of your carrier or life to the job, but also briefly mention secondary areas like interests that show good soft skills.
- If there are any anomalies in your resume (gaps in your professional life) think about an explanation. Be honest and authentic. Should it be an unpleasant topic, assure that the phase has been overcome and that you now want to start something new with great vigor and all your strength, for which you will do everything.
- “What are your strengths?” There should also be something here that fits the position. It doesn’t help to be daring when applying to be a pilot. However, it is very good to be accurate if you want to become an accountant.
- “What are your weaknesses?” Bullshit is often told here. Things like “I have too high expectations to myself”, “I’m too ambitious”, etc. Even if that’s the case, it sounds inauthentic. Take a real weakness, but not so bad that it makes you unsuitable for the job, but at the same time show how you are trying to work on it. If you think, that you have no weaknesses, ask a friend! Everyone has weaknesses. It’s important to know them and find a way to deal with them. That’s what managers want to see.
- “Have you ever failed?” Please say “Yes.” Whoever asks this question wants someone who has failed before. It’s an important experience in life and totally okay to get back up and get over it afterwards. What’s important is how you deal with it. Failure is also about learning. So really say something here about a real failure and what you learned from it and what you would do differently today so it doesn’t happen again. No one would believe that you have never failed anywhere. However, would you like someone that thinks to be perfect and never learned to deal with failure?
8. Interview day: appearance and demeanor
Part of the preparation is to arrange your appearance and the effect on the people present in such a way that you come across as you want to be perceived. I deliberately do not say that you should be perfect, nor that you should have a specific outfit.
It is certainly good if you think about it in advance, what kind of people work in the company, what the dress code is like and how the environment appears to be. You can often get an impression of this from photos and articles on the Internet but also from LinkedIn profiles and articles from people working in the company. Google for press releases and fotos as well.
Even if the rules for a dress code have loosened and not everyone expects a suit or, in the case of women, a costume, there are still unalterable standards or no-go’s for some branches. Inform yourself about this and ask yourself if you want to do this. Because you ultimately have to fit in. In an Internet startup, the suit with tie could even be counterproductive, whereas in a traditional bank it is still expected.
No matter what style of dress is common in the particular company, what is important everywhere: Be well-groomed. Proper personal hygiene from showering, deodorant, sitting hairstyle, shaving or beard care, fingernails and wear clean, not worn out clothes. No one wants someone unkempt next to them in the office. If you can’t even manage to show up to a job interview properly groomed, you won’t later or it will even get worse. If you show that you make an effort to prepare your appearance for the interview, you give the impression that you take it seriously and will make an effort later. In some studies it is said that within only a few seconds, one has a first image of a person that is difficult to revise. That’s why they say, “First impressions count.” That does not mean, that you may not have your own style. Make a conscious decision whether the appearance you are likely to be expected to wear is okay for you and you may have a different style in your job than in your personal life. In any case, be well-groomed and choose your style consciously.
Keep in mind, interviewers pay attention to many details, the background, the fingers, the clothes, etc. However, if a little mishap happened, such as the coffee on the blouse, it is not a big deal. Speak it openly and apologize for it, that makes you human and everyone will be able to overlook it with a laugh.
Humanity. This is a very important aspect anyway. Be human. Smile, be friendly, be open, honest and authentic. It’s better to take someone with small flaws who is likeable and grows from them than the seemingly perfect superman who will bounce off any criticism and for whom critical self-reflection is a foreign word.
Interviewers want to see if you fit into the company. So take advantage of any waiting time at you job interview and look around. Be yourself. You don’t want to work in a company where you don’t fit in and that would make you unhappy.
On-site interview
Be on time! Arrive with reserve. If you allow enough time, you won’t arrive rushed or too sweaty.
Be friendly to everyone you meet at the company. From the security officer or receptionist to someone you meet in the restroom, everyone could be in contact with the person making the hiring decision. If you have time, take the opportunity to wash your hands again and visit the bathroom. If not, a refreshing towel might be good if you’re worried about being sweaty or having sticky hands. However, you don’t really have to be nervous, if you are well prepared, you have nothing to worry about.
Online Interview
For online interviews, check all your equipment, sound, video beforehand. If you’re interested in coveted jobs, it may be worth investing in a better camera or microphone or other way to speak freely. Avoid sitting in front of the camera wearing a headset with a microphone. It looks weird. For safety’s sake, provide a second way to participate in the online interview, such as an iPad or iPhone.
Check the background. If you can’t use a feature in the conferencing software to cover up the background, stage the room. Tidy up an clean up the room, create a tidy area behind you, sit in a different spot than you normally use if necessary to make a good impression. In no case should there be an untidy kitchen, a rearranged bed or other mess behind you. If the background looks neat and clear, you appear clearer and more structured. A pleasant light, a plant, a nice piece of art always work well, but not too much! A lot of YouTuber’s stage their room recently. You can take them as an example. Don’t sit in front of the light or the window but opposite, otherwise the camera won’t get the exposure right. Make sure the lighting is good, test it in advance and try not to let people or loud noises disturb your interview.
You don’t have to overdo it like in the picture. However, depending on the job you are aiming for, you should also increase the amount of effort you put into it to show that you are the right person and are making the effort and want to make a professional impression. A professional setup (light box, good webcam and a microphone) can be bought for as little 100–300 dollars, but this will definitely pay off in salary. It will also make you stand out from the crowd and make a lasting impression. However, make the best out of the equipment and be aware that you show something of your personality when you open the window into your private rooms.
Show that you have made an effort for this interview and that you take it seriously. Your appearance is the signboard of your personality and values.
In my next articles I will write about the interview process and how to write an outstanding application that will make an invitation most likely. If you’re interested, subscribe to me so you don’t miss anything.
Leave a comment what your experiences are.
