1. Research, Research, Research
A likely first question any interviewer will ask is, “what does our company do?”
This seems like an obvious one, but you’d be surprised at the number of
people that have no clue. If you’re not prepared to discuss the company,
they probably don’t want you.
Take the time to know the company inside and out. Research what they
do, follow their social-media pages, and understand the industry and
the competitors. Basically, have the company’s elevator pitch down
pat. To be safe, practice it on a friend.
2. Connect Before the Interview
As you’re researching the company on their social media pages make
sure to like some of their posts, leave a comment or two, and re-tweet
what you find interesting. The reality is that you never know who might
be watching. Many recruiters prefer finding talent via Facebook and
LinkedIn rather than through a job site like Monster.
Does the company sponsor or organize any events? If so, show up
at some of them and meet the representatives from the company.
They can serve as a good “in” to the people who are hiring.
|If possible, connect with this person on LinkedIn afterwards.
3. Build Your Social Presence
Are you popular in the social sphere? Do you blog, Yelp,
and have a ton of friends on Facebook and followers on Twitter?
If so, great. You want to continue to build your social presence.
If you haven’t flexed your social muscles yet, then you better get going!
This is a critical way that recruiters assess how passionate you are about digital.
4. Be Prepared
Find out how the interview will be structured and plan accordingly.
Determine who your interviewers will be, find out as much about
them as possible, and then impress them with your knowledge.
Also, make sure you ask questions. Questions that haven’t been
thought through very well leave a bad impression. Write questions
down ahead of time and be precise, but don’t overdo it.
Another big item is the company’s dress code. Check out their Facebook
page, look for photos in the news. People want to see how you assimilate
into a culture. That said, always dress one step up from the code.
5. Arrive Early
Arrive at least fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. The
interviewers are scheduling their days around you so be ready to go.
If you are going to be late, it better be for an excellent reason.
Call and let the person who is waiting for you know.
6. Be Flexible
Don’t bring up money in the first interview. It positions you poorly.
Acknowledge that you appreciate being trained and will be a strong
asset in the future. Remember that it’s not about what you get paid
the first day. It’s what you end up getting paid the first year.
That being said, if the company really likes you then money might
come up so be prepared with a realistic number. There are some
good sites that offer salary estimates. Feel free to take those into
consideration, but not as the final word.
7. Don’t Pigeonhole Yourself
Companies want people with diverse interests. If you like to work in
different areas, let that be known and don’t pigeonhole yourself into
one department. Also, don’t feel shy about sharing your hobbies and
interests. Varying interests bring character and color to a company’s culture.
8. Think Career, Not a Job
Make it clear you’re interested in a career, and not just a job.
Ask what you can expect over the next ninety days, and communicate
what exactly you’ll be bringing to the table. But don’t communicate that
in blanket statements like, “I’m good at sales” or “I like to take initiative.”
Instead, if you’re good at sales say, “In one year I closed five new
accounts and grew three existing ones, resulting in $300,000 in new
business.” Or, if you’re a go-getter, describe a problem you helped solve
and the result. Show your real impact and potential by talking about
accomplishments in your career.
9. Keep the Details in Mind
Keep these small, but important, details in mind when interviewing:
Shut your phone off, don’t chew gum, sit up straight, don’t say
“yeah” or “like” or “you know,” don’t talk over the interviewer, maintain
eye contact, and don’t tell the interviewer about where else you’re interviewing.
At the end always go for the close and ask about next steps.
10. Follow Up and Maintain Contact
After the interview, make sure to get everyone’s business card and
send a thank-you email that day. Then check in every now and then
with your main contact to see how the process is moving along.
If you don’t get the position, that’s OK, too. Learn from the experience,
improve your talking points, and keep up positive communication with the
company. Maybe they found someone with more experience, but that
doesn’t mean another position won’t open up in a few months that you’re
perfect for, and because you remained in contact, they might call you
up for that job instead.
