Building Confidence: Preparing For & Crushing Your Interview
As a job seeker, the interview process can be both exhilarating and terrifying. On one hand, you are excited at the thought of landing your dream job, advancing your career, and doing something you truly love. On the other hand, you are anxious about putting your best foot forward, making a good impression, or worse, being rejected. However, with the right preparation and mindset, you can ace your next interview and land not just the job you want, but the job you deserve.
The Plan For A Plan
Preparing for an interview, as cliche as it sounds, starts with research. You should research the company, its products or services, its mission and values, and the job description to understand what the company is looking for in a candidate. Don’t be afraid to go deeper as well! Research the interviewers, the type of interview you’ll be taking, and anything “extra” the business does (podcast, social media, community events, etc.).
While it sounds like a lot, this is the foundation that will enable you to tailor your responses to the interviewer's questions and demonstrate how your skills and experience align with the company's needs.Not to mention, I’ve never heard of someone not passing an interview, because they knew too much about the company.
Pro Tip: Research the company's industry and competitors to get a sense of the broader context in which the company operates. This will enable you to speak intelligently about the industry and show that you are knowledgeable about the company's place within it.
Tell Me About A Time…
When preparing for the interview, you should be prepared for different types of interview formats (coding, presentations, behavioral, etc.). This is an area you can, and should, really lean into your recruiter for. Outside of someone who actually runs they interview, they will be able to talk about common themes they see, things to do/not do, and what the interviews will be looking for. Do not be afraid to ask your recruiter for a prep call — it is quite literally what we are here for!
While interview types may differ based on certain roles, one that is universally a part of nearly every process I have seen over the last decade, is the Behavioral Interview. There are the famous, “Tell me about a time you…” questions and I can promise you, regardless of your technical skills, regardless of your industry knowledge, companies want to hear you can do the role to the level they are expecting.
Now we have a whole Behavioral Guide, but here are my two favorite tips:
Prepare your answers! Write down your favorite projects, times you have failed, how you work with other teams and have three to five bullet points for each. This will also help jog your memory, keep your answers inline, and keep you from rambling.
Talk with real examples. Do not tell me what you would do, or what you’d think the right answer would be, tell me exactly what you did. It’s okay to pull and use examples from past experiences and if you’re a new grad, relate them to your schooling or trade work.
Put It All Together
You’ve made it this far! You have done all the necessary research, practiced your interview questions, prepped with your recruiter, and now it's time to put everything together!
The best way to build confidence is to remind yourself of your strengths, accomplishments, and experiences that make you the best fit for the job. Take a deep breath, maintain good eye contact, and dress in something you feel super confident in (I’ve got a go-to navy blue polo, that makes me feel super confident).
It's also important to be yourself and let your personality shine through! By YOU! Remember that you have prepared for this moment, and you are ready to show your potential employer what you can bring to the table. Don’t forget, the interviewer wants you to succeed as well. They are taking the time out of other work, to interview you. Hiring is generally not their day-to-day focus and the less interviews they can do, the better!
Pro Tip: When the interviewer is talking, listen to understand, not just to respond. What do I mean by that? Listen to what the interviewer is saying, pull in the big picture, and ask questions.
What not to do:
Interviewer: We try to partner with account managers as often as possible to get the info when they close a deal or know what is coming down the pipe.
You: That is great you partner with the account managers, I have done a lot of that in my past roles!
What To Do:
Interviewer: We try to partner with account managers as often as possible to get the info when they close a deal or know what is coming down the pipe.
You: That's great! I heard you say that you try to partner with the account managers as often as you can, is there generally a disconnect from when they close a deal and us getting the info? Why is that?
Lock It Up
The interview process can be nerve-wracking, but with the right preparation and mindset, you can successfully navigate it and land your dream job. Start by researching the company and its values, mission, and products, and tailoring your responses to align with their needs.
Be prepared for different types of interview formats, and practice your responses for behavioral questions. Remember to be yourself and let your personality shine through! Use your strengths, accomplishments, and experiences to showcase why you are the best fit for the job.
Finally, the interview is a two-way conversation, and use it as an opportunity to learn more about the company and assess whether it is a good fit for you.
Now go out and ace your next interview and take that next step in your career.
