You’ve done your pre-interview homework and now the day has arrived for you to meet the decision makers. Not only will you be evaluated, but you will be interviewing your prospective employer. You need to dig deep and ask questions to make sure that the organization is in align with what you value. By using our pointers below you will stand out from the competition and also learn more about the company.
1. Ask what they are looking for in a candidate. Job descriptions are not always accurate, and often the person hiring had someone else write the summary. By asking what they are looking for in a candidate, it will paint a clear picture for you with regards to role expectations and desired attributes. This information should help tailor your responses for the remainder of the interview, so that you are speaking to your experience, based on their expressed needs.
2. Understand expectations. Ask what they would expect from their new hire in the next 30, 60 and 90 days. The answer to these questions will give you an understanding on your goals and will also give insight into the company’s onboarding process. Another worthy question is, “If you hired the perfect person, what would they have accomplished by their 1 year anniversary?” These types of questions reflect your desire to be held accountable for performance.
3. Ask for clarification. An interviewer can ask questions that may be vague or open to multiple interpretations. For example, if asked, “How are your computer skills?” this could be interpreted by some as troubleshooting or specific software experience. So when you aren’t 100% sure of what the person is asking, ask!
4. Learn the STAR model. The STAR interviewing model is an interview technique that is often used to understand someone’s behavior. The acronym stands for: Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Use this model when asked to give examples of your experience. For example, be clear in describing a situation by expressing the overall objective or goal, describing what strategies you generated to achieve the goal, explaining how you implemented the strategies, and summarizing the final result.
Taking notes during your interview preserves details for your review post interview. A lot of information is covered and it’s not always possible to remember everything. Reviewing your notes may even spark additional questions; which, aside from a thank you not, is a great reason to follow up. Follow these simple pointers and you should walk out of the interview feeling confident that you effectively and efficiently represented yourself!
As Talent Acquisition Manager, Jessica focuses on finding the right candidates to fit our clients’ needs. She works with our clients to understand the exact skills and attributes that would fit with the cultural climate and their environment.
