By Jonathan Doochin, CEO of Soligent Holdings, and Jeremy Doochin, Vice President of Strategy of Soligent Distribution
Interviewing for a job sometimes feels worse than getting a root canal for many people. Just the idea of being interviewed can send some into a mind paralysis, having to justify their past decisions and “sell” themselves. We at Soligent conduct a lot of interviews, sometimes dozens each week, ranging all the way from interns pursuing their undergrad degrees to executives who have run billion-dollar companies. Rest assured, there are common threads we’ve found that can set you apart in your next interview. Here are 10 helpful tips to follow:
10. Take note of scheduling links, time zone differences
The interview starts before the interviewer ever speaks with the candidate. Be sure to read emails thoroughly, utilize scheduling links, schedule in the correct time zone and follow any other interview instructions. This is a great way to signal to the interviewer that your attention to detail is on point.
9. Write a follow-up thank-you note
Over 80% of people we interview don’t send a thank-you note. So when we do get one, it stands out. It’s not going to be what gets you the job, but it definitely can help if your interviewer is on the fence. A thank-you note signals etiquette, excitement and follow-through. Send it immediately after the interview and make it personal, perhaps recalling something specific about your interviewer and the company you discussed.
8. Be passionate about yourself and the job
What makes you stand out from the 10 other people your interviewer just spoke to for this job? Passion for the company, its mission and even your purpose in life goes a long way. We only aim to hire people who are passionate.
7. Research your interviewer and the company
True in sales of any kind, show a genuine interest in your customer (interviewer) and you’re far more likely to make the sale (get the job). Always look at your interviewer’s LinkedIn, do a Google search and then actually prove it in your interview. Bring your findings casually into the conversation through a natural opening or when the interviewer asks if you have questions. But here’s the key: Ask a pointed, genuine question that shows you did your homework and actually care about that person and the company.
6. Talk about what you did, not everyone else
Many of us can talk about anything but ourselves. Be sure to detail what you actually did when discussing all of the great things you have been or currently are a part of. Ample research shows that a consistent thread in high performers is that they talk about what they did in the first person and take ownership. Sure, talk about that great experience with teams, but make sure you distinguish what parts you did and where you leveraged your team.
5. Wait your turn to ask questions
A number (albeit a minority) of candidates will usurp the interview by asking question after question. Avoid doing this and prove that you can follow direction. This will also ensure the interviewer has enough time to learn what he/she needs to pass you onto the next step. Follow the interviewer’s lead; he/she will usually indicate whether it’s a conversational interview or there’s a set time to ask questions.
4. Speak openly and honestly about strengths and weaknesses
Candor goes a long way in an interview. You don’t want to shoot yourself in the foot, but sharing an honest assessment about how you failed, your weaknesses, and what you’ve learned goes a very long way. Sometimes we’ll ask candidates to tell us their three biggest weaknesses, not because we think we’ll get an objective assessment, but to differentiate those candidates who will actually be frank rather than giving canned responses.
3. Try not to be overly talkative
Though you may be nervous, make sure to not drone on and on giving examples or get caught up in a story without taking a breath. To keep the interviewer interested, it’s best to keep your general responses under 60 seconds. Follow the cues of your interviewer. This is especially important in a phone interview. If asked to sum up your background in two minutes, be conscious of how long two minutes is, and take pauses in between.
2. Structure your responses
An interview is not only about evaluating your professional experience and IQ, it’s very much about your emotional quotient (EQ). Being concise, well communicative and structured are amongst the most important factors of an interview. A lot of people get lost in their answers. Try starting responses with, “There are three steps we took toward solving that problem…” This will prevent rambling, ensure you are answering the question asked and help your interviewer follow your train of thought more easily. When preparing for the interview, bullet point the steps of each project you may talk about and use this as a structured mental map in your interview.
1. Answer the questions being asked
It sounds cliché, but the best thing you can do to be successful in an interview is to answer the question. This tends to be a weakness of many candidates we interview. Be sure to listen to the question being asked and make sure you’re answering that specific question. Try things like writing the question down, asking the interviewer to clarify if it’s confusing or even paraphrasing the question back to the interviewer if you’re uncertain.
Keep these 10 tips in mind during your next interview, and you’ll be on your way to being a pro.