Best Practices: Interview Edition

Sep 16

In light of our current times, I figured now would be a good time to refresh best practices and introduce new suggestions to use for your next job interview. Whether you are just graduating, recently laid off, or just looking for something new, there are helpful tips for everyone! Below you will find some basic interview practices, as well as extra steps I’ve taken that have proven successful time and time again!

Before the Interview

1. Research the job

Whether you’ve worked in the industry for years or are just starting out—study the job. Learn as much about the position as you can. The more you know about what your duties will entail, the more prepared you will be for any question they may throw at you. Definitely continue to use practice interview questions from google, but don’t stop there. Tailor your practice questions to pertain to the job. Start out by simply googling the position. What has been posted out there about the job- articles, personal posts, Glassdoor reviews? LinkedIn is helpful to find more detailed duties of someone who held that position. Sometimes interviewers or applications are vague in what the position entails and doing some research yourself helps you to prepare for the interview, and also decide if the job is right for you.

2. Research the Company

Use similar methods when researching the company. Having detailed knowledge about the company shows you are not only interested in the position available, but also the company itself for the long term. Companies are more likely to invest in people that will stick around as it costs them time and money to onboard new people constantly. Also showing you’ve done your research and prep work never hurts either. First, find any information you can find provided by the company itself. Find the company’s mission statement, “about” tab, the company executives, etc. After that, use the google “News” tab to find the most recent articles about the company, and how long ago it was posted. Keeping up with the company’s current events is not only helpful for your own knowledge, but also could prep you for any questions they may ask that quiz you on whether or not you have done your research on the company. I like to print out any articles I enjoyed or find prevalent and go through and annotate by hand.

3. Research the CEO

Depending on your field this may not be necessary, but again it never hurts to look! By researching the product/service or reading the company’s mission statement, you can get an idea of what the business is about. But hearing it from the director themselves can always offer a new perspective. It also just gives you more material to use during the interview to prove you’ve done your research! For me, I made sure to research the Creative Director of Tommy Hilfiger, which you guessed it, is Tommy Hilfiger lol. Getting an idea of the man who established the company gave me a little more insight as to what the company is about and their values. I read and watched interviews of him to try to understand him as a person, as well as what he thought of his own company and his hopes for its’ future.

4. Research the interviewer

This may not be helpful to all—however having an idea of the person interviewing you may help to ease a little more anxiety, by filling in the blanks of some of the unknowns. However be sure not to go too far. You definitely don’t want to put off stalker vibes. Stick to professional platforms such as LinkedIn or google News. Stay away from things like Facebook or Instagram which are more personal social media platforms. Your research is meant to give you context as to what your potential new employer’s job is, and to put a face to the name. I personally am the visual type, and having an image of who I’ll be talking to makes me feel more at ease. Especially if it’s a phone interview. My imagination tends to run rampant and betray my confidence. Putting a face to the voice behind the phone helps to alleviate any mystery and remind you that you are just talking to another human being on the phone with their own life and flaws.

5. Write short answer responses responding to all qualifications required for the position.

Find whatever job application or description the company provided when you applied. Break down every aspect and skill that is listed and write short answer responses as to why you are qualified. This is another step in prepping for any questions they may ask you, so that you have an answer in your back pocket for everything. Personally, I like to include it with my application as it shows going above and beyond, and can cover things you were not able to fit in a resume or cover letter. Since those are more professional documents, I also like to use my short answers as a way to show a bit more of my personality. Keep in mind, you’ve tailored your resume and cover letter to specifically fit on one page because those hiring are unlikely to read too in depth. I only like to take this extra step and have it with me ready to provide as a little something extra to help me stand out. However, don’t be surprised if it is not read, or accepted. But if it is, it could really be the tipping point that helps the company to choose you!

6. Prepare a list of questions

Chances are you have questions for your potential future employer, but even if you feel like you don’t, have questions. If you need to google some for inspiration, do so. Make sure they are thoughtful and relevant, and not the cliché top 5 suggestions from your google search. Spend some time to really consider, you’re interviewer will be impressed by your thoroughness and obvious consideration for the job. You’ll also benefit by doing this because you will be flipping the interview back on them. Now they will be trying to convince you as to why you should work for them. This is your opportunity to be sure the company is a good fit for you as well!

As a guideline, I like to say, have questions about each of the following:

The interviewer (if they’ll be your boss) and the team- will you be a good fit for one another? What is their take on the company and its growth? What are the goals for the team in the next year?, etc.
The job- get an idea as to what the job entails and what they expect of you. Ask for examples of projects, responsibilities, the skills and experience they are looking for in the ideal candidate, etc.
The training and development- how will you be trained, what are the advancement opportunities from the current position… show your interest in mastering said job so you can grow further in the company to continuously prove yourself an asset to them.
Personal performance goals- use this as an opportunity to show dedication by asking the expectations for the job in the first 30, 60, 90 days, to 12 months of the job. What are the performance review metrics?… This will also benefit you if you get the job as a way to measure your success (and ask for your next promotion!).
The company- have questions pertaining to the company’s stability/growth for the next “x” number of years to show you are committed for the long term!
The culture- do their beliefs and values align with your own?
The next steps- This is your last chance to clear up any doubts they may have about you and your qualifications for the position. You’ll also want to make sure if there are any additional steps you need to do in order to complete your interview/application process, you do so!

7. Update Resume and Cover Letter

Have your resume and Cover letter perfectly updated and tailored to the position/company you are applying. Print several copies to have for the interview. For example, your experience doesn’t really change, but if you’re applying for a smaller company vs. larger, maybe you’d like to highlight skills in working cross-departmentally, as this is more common in smaller businesses than large corporate offices.

8. Prepare a list of references and their contact information

Have a separate sheet of paper containing names, emails, phone numbers, and company of anyone you want used as a reference. Have several copies of this as well, and one in the folder you will be providing the interviewer.

9. Assemble a folder for you and the interviewer

Assemble one for yourself, and one to give to the interviewer(s). The one you will keep for yourself will have all the same documents you provided the interviewer, as well as multiple copies of each. You want to be prepared to share these documents with anyone else who asks for them! In your own folder is where you’ll also where keep your list of questions, annotated articles, paper to take notes, and anything else you feel you need.

10. Have pen and paper to take notes

11. Plan your outfit

Depending on the job you are interviewing for, tailor it to what that field finds appropriate. In fashion, try to show that you have an eye for it—but for bonus points, try to wear any articles of clothing sold by that company, or reflect what you might find at said company. In whatever field you are applying, dress to look as if you are already employed there and would fit right in! Unless you are applying for one of those chill companies that allows leggings and running sneakers, in which case do not dress like an employee lol.

During the Interview

12. Balance note taking and eye contact

Be sure you have a healthy balance of note taking and eye contact. You are not a student, vigorously taking notes in order to prep for a test. An interviewer is getting to know you and testing you on the spot. So be present in the conversation, but if something is mentioned you need to take note of, the interviewer will not be upset by this. In fact, some may notice if you don’t.

13. Make mental notes

Make mental notes on everything the interviewer is saying. In casual conversation, if they bring up they have plans for their daughter’s birthday, make note of it and mention it next time. Ask how it went and have a casual, organic conversation because of it. This feels a little more personable and creates a sense of friendship an employer might find in you! It’s also just considerate to show you were paying attention when they were talking to you. This also obviously applies to things they mention about the job, however these would be appropriate things to take physical notes of if need be! For example, the first position I interviewed for in NY, my interviewer mentioned that the receptionist needed to have an eye for detail and pay attention to surroundings. She mentioned the CEO’s favorite candy was red Starbursts, so they always had a jar of red Starbursts at the front. So when I went in to drop off my thank you note, I left a tiny box of red Starbursts tied with a ribbon in addition to the card. The next time they brought me back, they raved about how impressed they were and how much the CEO loved it, but told me unfortunately they had filled the position…. Instead, they offered me the position 2 job titles above it! ;)

*** I do feel I need to clarify however, you do not want to cross into bribing territory. A whole gift basket, tickets to the next big game, or passes for a spa treatment are all HUGE no-no’s. The starburst thing cost me less than a dollar and was hand crafted, huge difference. So tread lightly on this one! However I think most people can easily determine when they are crossing a line with this.

14. Ask for a moment to think about an answer

If you do not have an immediate answer to a question just asked, ask for a minute to think about it!!!! This does not look bad if used sparingly. Now you will only have a few extra seconds, which doesn’t seem like much, but it will give you a moment (that is socially acceptable) to look at a wall and clear your mind and think of the best way to answer the question. If you do not take the opportunity, you may risk rambling off the first thing that comes to mind— maybe you don’t quite answer the question, give a bad answer, or you scramble to figure out your answer while already speaking, leading to a lot of “um’s” and other fillers.

15. Pay attention to posture

When we get nervous, we tend to shrink into ourselves. Maybe you slouch, or pull your arms too close together in front of you. Maybe you’re body gets stiff and tense, or you tap your feet. Take a moment every few minutes to be mindful of your posture. Sit up straight, position yourself to be open, try using hand gestures—these all imitate confidence.

16. Adapt

Now you can try everything you can possibly imagine to prepare for an interview, but they may still be able to catch you off guard. So be able to adapt. The only suggestions I can give you here, is to ask for the time you need, and be ready to think on your feet.

17. Be yourself

Be yourself, genuineness is noticed. Try to bond with the person interviewing you. Not only are you providing your qualifications, but you’re also trying to find out if you and the interviewer are compatible. You’ll want to make sure you are if you will be working closely together! Make sure they are as a good fit for you as you are for them! You’ll also come off as more natural and confident if it doesn’t feel like you’re trying too hard. Obviously know your stuff and practice, but don’t be a robot, let some of your personality shine!

After the Interview

18. Write a thank you note

Another reason it is important to take mental notes about the person/job is to be able to write a well thought out thank you note. After your interview, go straight home or to your nearest café and write your thank you note. Deliver same day, or next day to reception. Don’t give them too much time to think. You just wowed them with your interview, wow them with an extremely thoughtful thank you note too. Stack those wows!!!! In fact, you might leave them so “wow-ed” they don’t bother interviewing the other candidates! ;) I also highly recommend delivering to reception in person. It guarantees same day delivery, and you can tell the receptionist exactly who it needs to be delivered to. No worrying about whether or not it was lost in the mail.

19. Send follow-up email

If they shared their email, follow up. Make sure they have your personal contact as well, and thank them for their time and consideration. It might seem like a lot to do both, but this one is a must. The thank you letter helps you to stand out and adds a personal touch. If you’re doing both, keep the email more to the point, but still throw in some of your personality. We don’t want automated response sounding emails just because they are digital and not as personal as written notes.

20. Follow up follow up follow up

It’s better to do too much than too little. So when in doubt (or not in doubt) do ALL OF THE ABOVE. Of course there are lines that can be crossed in the professional atmosphere, but this isn’t social media—you’re not trying to prove to everybody that you’re too cool for school. Writing a thank you note is not inappropriate. Expressing how much you enjoyed talking to a person is not unprofessional. Giving a hug on the way out however is NOT recommended! (Unless maybe you’re childhood friends or it’s your mom or something, both are highly unlikely scenarios). So best to stick with a firm handshake on the way out. Showing up to their home address with a casserole would also be a very bad idea (how did you find their address???). But I know you know this! Most of the professional/unprofessional guidelines are straightforward and blatantly obvious social skills. However, sometimes we mistake showing personality, or thank you notes as crossing some sort of line? But I promise you they are not.

In addition, also be sure you get the interviewer’s contact, HR’s contact, or if nothing else, the receptionist’s contact. You’re going to want to send a follow up email as previously mentioned.

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Below I included a simplified checklist . I suggest printing and crossing out as you go to make sure you’ve completed everything for your next interview!

Interview Checklist