Ten Best Practices For A Successful Interview
After 30 years of recruiting, I have witnessed some terrible interviews. I’ve also been privy to some of the very best. A successful interview is one where the candidate feels confident, secure, and qualified. They understand the questions they are being presented with and the requirements for the role in which they’re interviewing. They offer the best version of themselves with honesty, accuracy, and integrity. And this goes both ways; the person interviewing better know why they are asking certain questions and they better know what they are looking for before they interview the candidate!
To enjoy a successful interview as a candidate interviewing for a new role, it boils down to doing a few things well, and I’m sharing them here.
1. Authenticity in an interview matters: Put your best foot forward, yes, but if you put on a performance and hide your true self, you’re doing yourself and the employer a disservice. Be yourself and if they hire you for who you really are, then you will be successful.
2. Be honest about your needs: If you have specific behaviors, traits, or characteristics that are due to neurodiversity, be clear about them up front. Likewise, it’s OK to simply say, “I am a bit nervous so please be patient with me.”
3. Be on time: It should be a given, but sometimes we need a reminder. Remember, the recruiter is the person that gets you in the door, treat them with the upmost respect, like you should with all people.
4. Give your full attention: Give the interview and the interviewer(s) the attention and respect they deserve. No one likes their time to be wasted, so if you feel like the interview isn’t important enough to give it your full attention, don’t do it in the first place.
5. Share your excitement thoughtfully: Keeping your professionalism is key, but if you are excited about the opportunity and feel that the interview is going well, be clear about how you feel. Positivity and optimism go a long way.
6. Stand on your own two feet: Unless otherwise instructed, go to the interview alone. Do not bring your parents (which I’ve heard about people doing), your dog, or your kids.
7. No eating: Eat before or after your interview, but not during. Don’t eat on screen or in person. If you have water, make it a water glass not a water bottle, no one wants to see you suck out of a bottle on an interview.
8. Thoughtfully answer questions: This is your time to shine! We don’t know how good you are unless you tell us, just watch your tone and body language and be sincere.
9. Don’t be rude: Bring good energy to your interview and remember that if you are rude, you won’t get past the recruiter, that I can promise you. Also, you may think that your answering the question cleverly or with a touch of wit, but unless your response is clear and the interviewer understands the meaning behind your answer it may come across as rude or aloof.
10. Take ownership of your mistakes: Be truthful, and if you’ve screwed up be honest about it. Tell them how, when, why, and what you learned. No one will hire a person who is full of excuses or does not accept accountability for their actions.
In the end, enjoy the interview and conversation. Be proud of who you are, what you offer, and share the value you will be bringing the role and the company. Interviewing may not be fun, but it doesn’t have to be that painful either.
Remember, these are just small guidelines, and some are common sense, but in today’s world I have found that some people are not so common in their thoughts and actions. These top 10 guidelines were part of my feedback from an article that I thought was not helpful at all but throwing someone under the bus is not my style!! I hope this helps just a bit, even if most of this is just a friendly reminder.
To hone in your interviewing skills as you seek out your next role, reach out for some customized guidance. You can schedule your free consultation here.
Jennifer Mastor, Owner, Mastor Recruiting & Consulting
jennifer@mastorrecruiting.com
(425) 577-4102