If you’re going through an interview process for a new job, then I’m sure you’ve heard all of the “tips” that are supposed to help you prepare. You know, things like “dress nicely,” “arrive early,” “bring your resume,” “don’t talk negatively about your current employer,” etc. These are great tips, but they don’t cover everything.
And if you’ve ever sat on the other side of the table as an interviewer, you might have noticed how many people just aren’t prepared for an interview. In fact, in my experience working with hundreds of hiring managers over the last four years, I’ve seen candidates who were so unprepared that it made me wonder why they even bothered showing up. So what makes for a good candidate interview? And more importantly, how do you prepare?
Interviews can be tricky because there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The preparation required will vary depending on the type of role you’re applying for, the company you’re interviewing with, and the industry you’re in. But at the end of the day, interviews are two-way discussions between the candidate and the hiring manager. They’re not just about the hiring manager assessing your knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) to determine whether or not you’ll be a good fit for the role. It’s also about you determining whether or not the role is a good fit for you.
That being said, the key to success in any interview is preparation. That goes without saying, right? If you show up unprepared, you won’t be able to answer questions effectively, you won’t be able to demonstrate the KSAs that are important for the role, and you’ll probably leave a bad impression. But what exactly should you be preparing for?
The first thing to understand is that your resume and application don’t hire you. Hiring decisions are made by the hiring manager, and he/she has to make a decision based on the information he/she has available. While your resume and application tell him/her what you’ve done and what you bring to the table, it doesn’t give him/her a clear picture of how well you’ll perform in the role. Interviews provide that opportunity. During an interview, the hiring manager gets to ask you questions, see how you respond, assess your thought process, and get a better idea of how well you’ll actually perform in the role. So yes, your resume and application matter, but ultimately, the interview is where the hiring manager evaluates your suitability for the role.
So how do you prepare for the interview? Let’s start with the basics. First, research the company. Read their website, learn about their mission, values, products/services, history, and culture. Learn about the role itself. Review the job announcement, and look for clues about what kind of person they’re looking for. Then, use this information to develop a response framework for the types of questions that are typically asked during interviews.
Second, review the competencies outlined in the job announcement, and think about how you can demonstrate those competencies during the interview. For example, if the job requires communication skills, you can anticipate questions related to communication and practice responses that showcase your ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
Third, prepare for behavioral interview questions. Behavioral interview questions are designed to objectively measure past behavior as a predictor of future results. Examples of these kinds of questions include:
Give an example of a problem and how you solved it.
Tell me about a time you failed or made a mistake.
Describe a situation where you had to work under pressure.
Tell me about a time you worked as part of a team.
Tell me about a time you had to adapt to change.
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with conflict.
Fourth, prepare for case-based or problem-based discussion interview questions. These types of questions are often used for roles that require strong critical thinking, logical reasoning, and structured analysis. They can also be used to evaluate a candidate’s ability to analyze data, apply frameworks, and structure his/her thinking. Here are some examples of the types of questions that are commonly asked during these types of interviews:
How would you improve our sales funnel?
What would you do to increase customer satisfaction?
How would you improve our marketing strategy?
How would you increase our market share?
These types of questions allow the hiring manager to evaluate a candidate’s ability to think critically, logically, and strategically. When preparing for these types of questions, it’s important to remember that you’re not just trying to come up with the “right” answer. Instead, you want to demonstrate your ability to think through a problem from multiple angles, consider different options, and arrive at a solution that makes sense.
Finally, practice your answers to common interview questions. There are a number of resources online that list common interview questions and provide suggested answers. Take advantage of these resources and use them to help you prepare for your interview.
Once you’ve completed all of this preparation, you’ll still need to make sure you’re mentally and emotionally prepared for the interview. Remember that interviews can be stressful, and it’s normal to feel nervous before an interview. But try not to let that nervousness overwhelm you. Use the preparation you’ve done to remind yourself of all the great qualities and experiences you have to offer.
You may also want to take some deep breaths before the interview, and remind yourself that you’re ready. Remind yourself of all the hard work you’ve put into getting to this point, and all the qualifications and experience you have that qualify you for the position. This will help you stay calm, focused, and confident throughout the interview.
In summary, here are some of the ways you can prepare for your next interview:
Research the company and the role.
Review the job announcement and look for clues about what kind of person they’re looking for.
Prepare for behavioral interview questions.
Prepare for case-based or problem-based discussion interview questions.
Practice your answers to common interview questions.
Make sure you’re mentally and emotionally prepared for the interview.
Remember, the goal of an interview isn’t to simply pass an interview. It’s to demonstrate to the hiring manager that you’re the best person for the job. So be prepared, be professional, and most importantly, be yourself.