5 Steps for Successful Interview Prep
You did it!
You employed a fool-proof job search strategy, applied, and landed the interview - congratulations!
Here are 5 steps for acing your next interview
1) Research the company
Gain a deep understanding of the company’s mission, values, products or services, recent news, and industry trends. If you know who you’re meeting, look them up on LinkedIn to understand their background. Doing your research will help you answer those questions more effectively and will demonstrate your interest in the company. It will also help you suss out whether or not you see yourself as a fit culturally.
2) Practice interview questions
We all know those situational/behavioral questions are coming. Having specific examples that clearly articulate the challenges you faced, the actions you took, and the results you achieved will help you stand out and give concrete examples of your skills and accomplishments.
This is where our work together on building an accomplishments-based résumé provides added bonus. Use the questions asked and answers you provided to kickstart your thinking around these experiences and hone in on your messaging!
3) Perfect your elevator pitch
The first question a recruiter usually asks is about your background. You should have a concise, compelling pitch summarizing your skills, experience, and what you bring. Creating this elevator pitch can also help with networking! Here’s one suggestion on how to best structure your answer from career coach Lily Zhang in The Muse (I swear by this formula!):
Present
Talk a little bit about what your current role is, the scope of it, and perhaps a big recent accomplishment.
Past
Tell the interviewer how you got there and/or mention previous experience that’s relevant to the job and company you’re applying for.
Future
Segue into what you’re looking to do next and why you’re interested in this gig (and a great fit for it, too).
It’s important to remember this isn’t a question to dig into your life story! Keep it short, relevant, and to the point. What interviewers are really asking is: “Why are you the best person for this job, and what brought you to that point?” You want to also tailor your response to the audience (recruiter, hiring manager, potential peer teammate), keep it professional, and be positive! Show your passion here for your work and why you’d be the best fit for this upcoming opportunity.
4) Prepare thoughtful questions
During your conversation, there will be questions that come up. Keep them in mind! And having some questions prepared about the team or company mission shows you’re thinking about the long term.
Are you stuck? Check out these stellar questions from HBR to get you thinking.
5) Follow-up
Always send a thank you email to each interviewer (not just the decision maker!) to reinforce your appreciation for the opportunity and reiterate your interest in the role. Also, try to tie in something personal from the conversation; this shows you were listening and engaged. Something short and sweet can solidify your interest and keep you at the top of mind.
How can a coach support this journey?
Clarity and Focus
In Clarity Coaching, we’ll spend time helping you distill your background into concise and impactful bullets. This discussion will help you focus on your most relevant achievements for the roles you want to apply for, which will enhance your ability to articulate your accomplishments during your interview.
Self-Reflection
Clarity Coaching also allows you to reflect on your goals and what’s next in your career. Our collaboration will involve discussing your career goals, strengths, and areas of expertise. These conversations will help you think about your skills and how they relate to the position you’re seeking.
Storytelling
I can help with that elevator pitch! Giving your résumé a coherent story of your accomplishments will serve as a foundation for you to answer those interview questions about your background and why you’re a good fit for the role.
Preparing for Interview Questions
During the résumé process, I ask questions about your skills and experiences. The examples we articulate for your résumé will directly help you answer those situational questions. If you’d like to jump off the résumé work into a mock interview session, let’s do it!
Interviews can be tough, and with the current market, the competition is steep, but remember, every interview is a chance to learn and grow! Every interview will allow you to refine your interviewing skills!
Good luck! You've got this!
🥂 nicole:)
