Author: George Marchant, Technical Recruiter

Preparing for an interview is a simple action that most of us take for granted. After all, an interview can be the road that leads us to our next job which can change the trajectory of our career and everything else that comes with it. Taking small, manageable steps towards having a plan in advance of an interview can have big consequences.

Have a plan:

The first thing to consider is having an overall plan of action and strategy when going in to an interview. Establish basic rules that you can follow to ensure you feel confident when going to an interview. This includes thinking about how the conversation may go beforehand, how you can address your strengths and weaknesses during the interview, and what you plan to get out of the conversation. 

Once you have a general plan or framework in place, take the following steps to optimize your preparation:

1) Do your homework and understand the company to which you are applying.

• Research the company – consider their values, the industry, the technology they use. Check out their reviews on public forums and job review sites (eg: Glassdoor, Comparably, etc.). Consider if the role feels like a short-term place to gain experience or a long-term move to build a career. 
• Research the interviewer – use LinkedIn or other platforms to get more information about the individual you will be speaking with. Consider what their title is, their role with the company, and their background. In some cases you can get the interviewer name from HR or the recruiter who sets up the interview.
• Prepare for the questions they will ask/anticipate – try to play through different scenarios in your head. Consider having a mock interview with a friend or past colleague. This will enable you to gain comfort in possible scenarios you might have otherwise not considered. 
• Where are there gaps that might be asked of you based on the qualifications and how can you overcome those shortfalls? Turn the concerns they could have in to positives. You want to showcase your abilities and skills so think about how you can instill confidence in them and demonstrate that you are suitable for the role.

2) Come prepared with questions: 

• Ask the interviewer why they reached out to you. Was there something that stood out in your resume that they liked? This can be useful information that you can consider when thinking about what is/is not working in your favor to attract employers. 
• Ask questions about the job duties. If hired, what is a day in the life like? 
• Find out what room from growth is available. How do you see this role in 2-5 years for a top performer?
• What are the biggest challenges in this position? Are there specific goals that this individual can help the company achieve? 
• What is the company culture like? Is it slow and calculated or fast paced and quick moving?
• What is your favorite thing about the company/this role? Get insights directly from someone working there currently.

3) Leave the interview confidently:

• Make sure to have all your questions answered that you have prepared. Even consider taking notes during the interview. This shows interest and engagement.
• Consider asking the interviewer if they have any concerns that you can address.
• Gather an idea of what to expect next. Ask about what timelines look like and what the next steps would be.
• Thank the interviewer for their time.

Coming prepared to an interview can give you an advantage over the competition and also allows you to better manage the outcome. Utilize these best practices to make the experience more positive and you will not regret it.

Mr. Marchant is a technical recruiter and has ten years strategic staffing experience for Fortune 500, large enterprises, and small-mid-sized companies. In this capacity, he works as a technical recruiter to analyze and identify hiring needs to develop a recruitment plan. He has extensive experience in screening and interviewing candidates over a broad spectrum – technical and non-technical, work force and executive levels. Mr. Marchant presents on career and employment issues and joined NITP as a speaker in 2022.

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