I’ve had several clients going through a career transition and have asked me to help them prepare for job interviews. As a recruiter and coach, I’d like to share my Top 5 Tips. If you put time and energy into preparing upfront, you’ll have an amazing outcome. I promise.
#1 Do Your Research
This, of course, goes without saying. Research the company, its products, revenues, business model, overall market, its competitors, and the background of each person you’ll be meeting with. Find out if you know anyone in your LinkedIn network who is connected to the person with whom you’ll be interviewing and get the scoop. If you’re working with a recruiter, ask them to brief you on the personality of each person. Do your homework and spend at least 3 times the amount of time of the actual interview preparing for it. If your initial interview is an hour, prepare for at least three hours. You may even want to role play with a willing friend or partner.
#2 Be Ready
Get a good night’s sleep so you’re refreshed for your interview. The morning of the interview, do something that puts you in a positive mood and gets you focused. Get out of your head and into your body: whatever that means for you. It might be going for a run or walk, taking a spin or yoga class, or meditating. Your intention is to be ready for anything, grounded and present. It’s time to get into the interview zone.
#3 Be Authentic
Be YOU. Not who you think the person across the table wants you to be. Be confident with yourself and who you really are, what you can do for the company, and develop a connection with the interviewer. Nothing is more refreshing than meeting someone who is comfortable in their own skin! It helps build instant rapport and trust. This goes without saying too. Be engaging, intelligent, curious and genuinely excited about the opportunity. Authentic passion sells.
#4 Relax and Have Fun!
If you tend to get nervous in an interview, remind yourself to enjoy it. It’s a process of getting to know someone, so let go and take the pressure off yourself. If you’re asked a question and you don’t know the answer, don’t worry, keep your composure, don’t miss a beat and keep going. I have a client who always asks the same question to candidates he interviews. Without revealing his question, it’s a complicated problem solver with no right answer. He asks it because he wants to find out how a candidate handles himself/herself under pressure. One interviewee got very angry and blew up at him — clearly, he didn’t get the job!
#5 Don’t Think “I Gotta Have this Job!”.
Though the position may sound like a dream job; keep an open mind, especially during the first interview. Think of it as a first date. The interview process is as much an opportunity for you to decide if the job is right for you as it is for the person and company you’re interviewing with. Try not to be overeager – until you know more. We all remember a first date when the guy/girl was too into you, right? Your goal, ultimately, is for the position to be a great fit for your skills and experience. You want to love the company and its culture and most importantly, you want to like and respect the people with whom you’ll be working. If the job is meant for you, it will be. Remember, you are super talented and you certainly don’t want a job that’s not right and doesn’t want you.
If you are struggling with a specific career transition, I can help. Sign up for your free 20 minute coaching session HERE.