Everyone can agree that interviewing these days is stressful! You have to have a resume that gets you a call, you have to survive a phone interview or two…then comes the in-person interviews. You’ll be lucky if you only have to take off of work twice to come in for those interviews. Then you’re up against who knows how many other applicants!
It’s a competitive world out there, but if you can follow these steps below…we believe you can make it through the interview gauntlet with an offer in hand!
1. Resume
a. Make sure you have a well-formatted resume with no spelling or grammatical errors—have at least two people proofread your resume before you submit it anywhere!
b. Gear your objective or summary toward the job you are interviewing for—make sure to change it before applying to another job though**
c. Add a sentence under each company name to explain what each company does that you have worked for—recruiters will appreciate the time this saves them from having to research each company!
2. Application
a. Make sure you complete and return anything asked of you throughout the interview process within 24 hours: application, writing sample, work samples/portfolio, references, etc.
b. Be 100% honest in your application (whether you did or did not graduate, convictions, etc.)—if you falsify any part of your application, you are immediately disqualified by most companies
c. Be realistic in your salary requirements: What do you really need in pay to take this job, and what value do you believe you can command? Make sure not to price yourself out of the running—asking to jump up $5k-$10k annually is typically reasonable
3. Attire
a. Men: full suit and tie
b. Women: full suit, closed toed shoes, and minimal jewelry
c. Keep tattoos covered please!
4. Prep Work
a. Make sure to fully review the job description and company website
b. Write down any relevant questions to bring to the interview
c. Review the company’s Glassdoor.com reviews with caution—don’t always believe everything you read, but it could be good info to know!
5. First In-Person Interview
a. Bring multiple hard copies of your resume unstapled
b. Carry everything in a portfolio in which you can take notes. Bring your questions and don’t forget a pen!
c. Arrive 15 minutes early
d. Call if you are going to be even five minutes late!
e. Make sure to turn off your cell phone
f. Pass resume copies to interviewers
g. Answer questions clearly and concisely. Try to avoid rambling, going off on tangents, or dodging questions
6. Make sure to be positive throughout the interview.
a. Avoid speaking negatively about your current or former employer or co-workers—no one wants to hire a Negative Nelly!
b. Hold off on asking compensation or benefit questions, but if salary history is asked of you, state where you would like to be in pay and what you have been paid in previous positions
c. Ask any other relevant questions you have pertaining to the job, the company, and the culture
7. Follow up
a. Option #1: Send a hand-written thank you note within 1-2 days by mail to your interviewers—this will stand out!
b. Option #2: Send an email thank you note—it is not as memorable as a handwritten thank you note, but it is still much appreciated by the interviewers!
8. Second/Third In-Person Interviews
a. Repeat everything from the first interview, including wearing a suit!
b. In these interviews, it is generally more appropriate to ask about compensation and benefits
c. Talk out any last questions or concerns you may have with the interviewers
9. Follow up (again)
a. Send hand-written or email notes to the newest interviewers
b. Email a note of continued interest to your main recruiting contact
10. References
a. Be sure to give your references a heads up that they might be getting calls and ask that they return calls quickly
11. Offer
a. Ask any final questions of the person extending the offer, including questions regarding any vacation time needed, when bonuses are paid, when benefits kick in, etc.
b. Let the recruiting contact know that you are grateful and appreciate the opportunity
c. If you want to negotiate any part of the offer, make sure to speak with the recruiting contact within 24 hours of receipt of the offer. Be sure to kindly ask for adjustments to be made. If you are overly demanding in negotiations or delay your response, you may risk the company pulling the offer
d. If you want to accept the offer, send the signed offer letter back to the recruiting contact within 24 hours
Congratulations! You’ve officially and successfully survived the interview gauntlet!
As Talent Acquisition Manager, Daley 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.
