Enter, stage left: you, confident and poised, landing a job after a killer interview!
Here are the essential steps for preparing to succeed at a job interview.
Do as much research as you can about the job and the company. List a few questions you’d like to ask the recruiter.
Prepare your introduction pitch: the next chapter will tell you how!
Identify questions the recruiter will probably ask you and practice answering them, including preparing concrete examples. (i.e. “Tell us about a time when…” questions)
Work on your image: your appearance and attitude.
Prepare the documents and equipment needed for the interview, just like when you used to prepare your school bag the day before going back to school!
Step 1: Do Your Research
Once again, you’re going to immerse yourself in the information you have collected about the job and the company.
Review the Job Posting and Your Cover Letter
Sometimes, several weeks have passed since you wrote your cover letter and/or you have already applied for other jobs. Make sure you go over the ad and job description one (or two!) more times before the interview! At this stage you can’t afford to get mixed up, and under stress, it’s easy to do if you haven't prepared.
This is why a tracking chart to keep your applications straight is so important. Refer to this chart and note the contacts, the dates, the tailored résumé and cover letter you sent and re-read the job posting. Double check that you understand it.
Look up Company News
Now that you have an interview, it's a good idea to learn more about the company and the job. In addition to all the other sources of information already discussed, it's especially worthwhile at this stage to search for any company news that has been published since you last looked.
Analyse Current Recruitment
Have a look through the company's careers page if you can find it, or Google the name of the company with the word “openings.”
If there are a lot of jobs posted, the company is probably expanding and prepared for mass recruiting. You will probably be dealing with a recruitment professional for the initial interview. They will question you about your career to date, your qualities, interest in the job and the company. At this stage, they won’t go into validating technical skills.
If only one or two jobs are advertised, it’s more likely you will be seen by your potential line manager! In this case, the interview will undoubtedly focus more on the business field, technical skills, work organization, etc.
Look Up the Interviewer
If you know who will be interviewing you, Google them! Usually their LinkedIn or the company website will show up.
Understanding their role in the company could inform how you approach your interactions with this person, how you answer their questions and what questions you might ask them.
It also helps remind you that they are human too, so you can relax! It might also open an opportunity to connect with them personally, which will encourage them to see you as a potential colleague.
Prepare to Talk About the Job and the Company
Try to imagine yourself in the interview and prepare the words and phrases you’ll want to use. Working from the keywords you have highlighted, summarize the job posting in your own words.
Learn everything you can. However, do be selective and summarize! One to two minutes is enough when answering either of these questions. The aim is to show your interest, not to tell them what they already know. 😉
If the recruiter doesn’t ask you the question, it doesn't mean they're not paying attention to your understanding of the job or the company. Having prepared what to say in response to these hypothetical questions, you’ll be able to understand the information they give you, respond to other questions in a relevant way and be prepared to ask pertinent and interesting questions of your own.
I suggest you write what you have learned about the company in 5-10 lines. Write about:
The company, its geographical and hierarchical organizations
Its business: products, customer base, market, partners and competitors
Its development projects, key issues, corporate social responsibility commitments
How it communicates its values and the image it wants to portray (on its website, blog, social media, advertising campaigns, etc.)
If you are a customer, give some thought to what you think of this company as a customer, what you like about it.
Standard Questions to Ask the Recruiter
Take advantage of this activity to prepare a few questions to ask the recruiter. These questions should enable you to clarify certain details concerning the job, the company or its development plans.
For example, depending on the information you have already gathered:
What are the company’s development plans over the months ahead?
What are your priorities for expansion abroad?
Of the missions described in the job posting, which ones have priority?
Which tools do you use?
How is the team made up?
How is the selection process organized?
When will this recruitment campaign be closed?
What is your timeline for next steps?
Step 2: Prepare Your Pitch
A pitch is a smart and effective introduction to yourself that will allow the recruiter to quickly understand your assets.
To prepare for this short speech – lasting only a few minutes – select the best information about yourself, including impactful points and examples of your experience. This is your moment to shine–sell yourself! Convince the recruiter that you are someone they can’t do without.
We'll have a closer look at preparing this all-important pitch in the next chapter.
Step 3: Anticipate Questions
After preparing your pitch, put yourself in the recruiter’s shoes. What questions would you ask to get to know the candidate well enough to believe they'll succeed in the role?
Who is this applicant really? What are their key assets? How can they manage a team when they’re fresh out of school? Why did they go to Japan and how long did they stay there? How well do they speak Spanish really?
Your Professional Trajectory Must Be Coherent
Are there any “holes” in your résumé? If so, be ready to explain them, ideally in a positive light!
Does your career progress logically with regards to your qualifications, experience and acquired skills? If it doesn't, be prepared to show the recruiter the guiding principle running through all your experience.
Don’t worry: perfectly linear career paths without any gaps, crossroads and changes in direction are increasingly rare! The employment market is no longer as rigid as it once was, and attitudes have generally evolved to value diversity in work experience.
Nowadays, people work in different countries, take a year off, get sacked only to bounce back better or go back to school at any age or stage in life.
We have all encountered difficult crossroads at times. You just need to know how to analyze and present them. Don’t defend yourself—you are not "guilty" of anything. It’s your story, so own it! 😎
In any case, it's vital to train yourself to tell a story that is both coherent and sincere.
Explain the reasons for the changes: here is a great article that suggests how to spin any gap in your résumé depending on the circumstances.
Explain how and in what context you came to choose this direction. You will be showing who you are, your courage in the face of certain difficulties, your ability to question yourself appropriately and to adapt to different situations.
Explain the ways in which this experience enabled you to grow, and in particular, what you learned about yourself.
Examples of Questions to Prepare For:
How do you see this position developing?
Can you give more details of some of your specific experience? Skills you have developed? Results you have achieved (figures, deliverables, etc.)?
How did your last job end (end of temporary position, dismissal, etc.)?
What obstacles have you encountered in performing tasks similar to the ones listed in the job posting?
What attracts you to this company/role?
What are your salary expectations?
What are your strengths/weaknesses?
Do you have any other offers in the pipeline?
Practice Your Answers
Remember, it's not enough to simply identify questions the recruiter might ask: you need to prepare answers to them as well! This involves brainstorming, having concrete examples ready and practicing!
You may want to try drafting potential answers, practicing in front of the mirror or role-playing with someone. This will reduce the risk of either having nothing to say or rambling.
Step 4: Work on Your Image
Being successful at a job interview isn’t only about your professional experience. It also depends on you–how you present yourself and the general “vibe” you give off. The recruiter will be observing you, building an understanding of who you are and analyzing your reactions. They also want to assess if you’re a good fit for the company and its culture!
Before the Interview
Practicing your pitch and your answers to potential questions is not just about deciding what to say, it's also about optimizing how you'll present yourself.
Articulate clearly.
Don’t speak too quickly.
Tell your story so it flows smoothly and sounds natural.
How to Dress
Have you examined the company’s website? Often there are photos on the “Careers” or “About us” page that show the work environment and management and staff members. You might even find videos.
Aim for an equivalent style of dress, but be careful. Wear clean and neat clothes that are not too casual! A good rule of thumb is to dress a bit more formally than the employees working there: if it’s a jeans and Converse-wearing start-up, a structured dress (not a sundress) or pants and a button-down shirt would be perfect. If it’s a more formal industry like law or finance, a suit would be more appropriate.
During the Interview
Here too, pay attention to how you present yourself to win over the recruiter!
Start Off on the Right Foot:
Be punctual: make sure you arrive at the right place at the right time.
Think about how you’ll greet the first person you meet, like a receptionist. For example, "Hello, my name is X. I'm here for an interview with Y." or "I'm here for an interview for the Z position."
Prepare your greeting . For example, “Hello, Y. So nice to meet you!”
Be conscientious of your handshake: firm, but not too firm! You don’t want to give your interviewer a hand injury.
Maintain eye contact with the recruiter and smile.
A Perfect Exit:
Make sure to take notes and ask for a timeline for next steps.
Thank the recruiter for their time and their interest in your application. Say “Goodbye” as courteously and positively as you said “Hello!” You can even practice in the mirror if you think it would help. 🙂
Step 5: Prepare Documents
People rarely show up to an interview empty-handed.
Make sure to ask the recruiter what you need to bring to the interview. It may be a physical portfolio of your completed projects, your laptop or other equipment needed for tests or validating skills, etc.
Generally, it will be useful to take a copy of the job posting and your notes from the phone interview or the emails already received.
Print out at least the job posting, your résumé and your cover letter.
Bring a notepad to take notes during an in-person interview, or you can use the Notes app on your computer during a video interview.
Also take with you:
A form of ID— otherwise you risk not making it past the front desk!
Your calendar, either physical or on your phone.
For certain interviews, it may be necessary to bring:
Any certificates proving certain qualifications.
A list of three references with email and phone contact details (Contact them ahead of time! They could include a former line manager, an HR manager, colleagues, teachers or partners with whom you have worked).
Your passport, visa and or other travel, residence or work documents.
Let's Recap!
Follow these steps to prepare for your interview:
Learn more about the job and the company. Prepare a list of questions.
Write your pitch and practice it!
Identify the questions the recruiter is likely to ask and formulate your answers.
Construct your image of the ideal candidate: your appearance and your attitude.
Prepare all the documents, information and equipment needed for your interview.
Leave a lasting impression. You never know, even if this job is not for you, this recruiter may have been impressed and could contact you for another position at some point in the future!
Let's take a closer look at the second step, preparing your pitch!
