Have you ever wondered if you could get insider interview advice from an HR Executive? Well today is your lucky day! As an HR Executive, I can offer you some interview guidance to help you prepare and perform well during the interview process. Here are some tips on what we pay attention to:
Research the Company
First, always thoroughly research the company before the interview! Familiarize yourself with their mission, values, products/services, recent news, and any other relevant information. Read any reviews the organization may have received as well. This knowledge will demonstrate your genuine interest and help you tailor your answers to align with the company’s goals. We will ask you questions on this just to see if you did your homework.
Understand the Job Requirements
Next, carefully review the job description and understand the key skills, qualifications, and responsibilities required for the role. Identify specific examples from your past experiences that highlight how your skills and achievements relate to the position. Nothing is worse than a candidate interviewing and not knowing what position they applied for. This unfortunately happens more than you would think.
Practice Common Interview Questions
Prepare responses to common interview questions, such as “Tell me about yourself,” “Why are you interested in this role?” and “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” Practice your answers to ensure they are clear, concise, and demonstrate your qualifications and suitability for the job. Almost everyone asks these same questions, so really you should always be prepared.
The best place to start is speaking to your resume. Start with your current position and work backwards. DO NOT start talking about your personal life, your kids, spouse, where you live, your hobbies – STOP. This is a professional interview. I can’t tell you how many times this has come up. That is not what “Tell me about yourself” means. It means tell me about your career path.
Dress the Part
Whether you are doing a virtual interview or in person, always dress the part. Make sure to dress for success. Yes that is cheesy line, but it 100% has an impact on your interview. You will be judged on your professional appearance, virtual included. If you can’t make the effort to put on some nice clothes, that tells me you lack ambition to do the job. If it comes down to two candidates and one presents a more polished professional appearance, that individual will have a higher chance of receiving a job offer.
Showcase Your Accomplishments
In addition to the interview advice of dressing the part, remember to be ready to discuss your achievements and provide specific examples of how you added value to previous employers or projects. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and highlight your contributions and outcomes. Provide examples, but don’t come across arrogant. Nothing is more of a turn off than having a candidate talk about how amazing they are to the point it can make you nauseous. There is accomplished and confident and then there is arrogance. I would not move you forward if you present arrogance. We are looking for team players.
Highlight Your Skills & Qualifications
During the interview, emphasize your relevant skills, qualifications, and experiences that make you a strong fit for the position. Be specific about how your skills can address the company’s needs and contribute to their success. Provide examples and scenarios. This is your opportunity to let them know what value you bring to the team and why they should hire you. Don’t let imposter syndrome get the best of you here. Be confident.
Demonstrate Your Cultural Fit
Employers often consider cultural fit when making hiring decisions. Showcase your alignment with the company’s culture and values by expressing enthusiasm, asking thoughtful questions, and demonstrating your ability to work well within a team. Cultural fit will make or break an interview. We know you are qualified, that is why you received the interview. What the interview is really about is culture fit, personality, relationship building, leadership, and how well you could fit within the current team. We focus on soft skills, such as active listening. Were you attentive and interested in the interview? That will impact our decision to move forward.
Another aspect to cultural fit, is if you were a referral. Did you get an interview through your network? Don’t discount that achievement. Be proud of how you maintain and foster relationships. If the person who referred you appears to be highly valued at the organization, which I assume they are if they took their recommendation to interview you, then bring them up. Talk about your past working relationships and how much you enjoyed working with them. Let them see what valuable person you would be to have on the team. This is full circle networking.
Ask Insightful Questions
As another piece of interview advice, always prepare a list of thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer. Don’t leave without asking some questions! This shows your genuine interest in the role and gives you an opportunity to gather information about the company’s culture, expectations, and potential growth opportunities.
Remember an interview is a two way street, they are interviewing you but YOU are also interviewing them. Toss the questions they have asked you back at them. Don’t interrogate them, haha, but ask questions that are important to you and your decision to work there. Here are a few examples of insightful questions you can use.
- Could you tell me what the company’s strengths and weaknesses are?
- Where do you see this company in 5 years?
- How would you describe your company culture?
- Can you describe the CEO’s leadership style?
- I read an online review that noted XYZ, can you tell me more about that?
Practice Good Non Verbal Communication
Pay attention to your body language, maintain eye contact, and exhibit a confident and engaged demeanor throughout the interview. Don’t be looking at your watch or checking your phone. Demonstrate active listening by nodding, smiling, and providing appropriate responses to the interviewer’s questions and comments.
It can also be helpful to be able to read your interviewers body language as well. Is their body facing away from you during the interview? That means they have lost interest and are planning their exit soon. Are they leaning in while you are talking? They are genuinely interested in what you have to say. These physical signs can signal what they may be thinking and help you course correct in the moment. A great book to read to help study up on reading body language is The Definitive Book of Body Language.
Be Authentic & Enthusiastic
Show genuine enthusiasm for the role and the opportunity to work with the company. Be yourself and let your personality shine through. Authenticity and passion can leave a lasting impression on interviewers. When I look back on interviews I have gone on, I always received the job offer when I was being myself. I like to lighten the mood and use humor in my interviews, from both sides, as it helps relax the situation.
So once I stopped being who I thought they wanted me to be, I was more successful. We can tell if you are being fake, its more obvious than you think. If its not a right fit, its not, so always be yourself. Be your professional self that is. We all have that side with our friends and family but in an interview you need to take it up a notch.
Follow Up
Send a personalized thank-you email or note to the interviewer(s) within 24 hours of the interview. Express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview, reiterate your interest in the position, and emphasize how your skills and experiences align with the role. Some may call this a lost art or feel its irrelevant, but its really not. It shows you went above and beyond, took the extra time, just to say thank you. Even if you don’t receive the job offer, you may still be thought of later for another position. I have done this a few times. So don’t burn any bridges. Say thank you.
In Conclusion
Remember, interview success is not solely based on your qualifications, but also on your ability to effectively communicate and connect with the interviewer. By preparing, showcasing your strengths, and demonstrating your enthusiasm, you can increase your chances of making a positive impression and landing the job.
