Everything You Need to Know to Crush Your Next Interview

Phase 1 - 3 + Most asked Interview Questions

Introduction:

I have always felt prepared going into each interview I have had, but what is funny, is by the end of some interviews I felt like I had just been pummeled by a wave and was not as prepared as I could have been. Each interviewing process will be different, and you will always underestimate how prepared you should be. So, buckle up, and let's get prepared!

In this email, I am going to cover many different things. From commonly asked questions and how I would answer them, to tips and tricks that will get you feeling confident before, during, and after your interview.

Let’s talk about Phase #1.

Phase #1 – Pre-interview

Do not just review your resume like you review your study guide before an exam. For this, you need to dig deeper. Research and learn about the company as much as you can beforehand. Why? Because they might ask you questions about their product or service and you want to be able to easily join the conversation. This goes a long way. If you can have a back-and-forth conversation with a recruiter and they don't have to teach you anything, they will remember that and enjoy their time interviewing you.

Company research can be conducted on the company website via their home page, product page, and about page. All three pages will give you valuable information about what they are selling, how they are selling it, and why they are selling it. If you can go into an interview and answer those questions, you will impress the recruiter with great knowledge on their product.

Another way you can do some background research is by searching for any connections that are tied to the company. Searching LinkedIn and/or close friends, you can use this to your advantage and learn an inside perspective on the company.

Once you have a grip on what the company is all about, it is time to practice your answers to interview questions and going over what you would say about each of your previous work experiences. These responses are going to be different for each job interview because you will want to convey what that company is specifically looking for. For example, if you are applying for a customer service role, practice talking about how each of your roles involved the customer and how you handled those situations.

Phase #2 – The Actual Interview

Right off the bat, you should be dressed for success. The old saying ‘dress for the job you want, not the job you have,’ could not be more spot on. This shows any employer that you mean business and you didn't just roll out of bed to be there.

After the first step, it's all about being polite and courteous to everyone you meet during the interview. First impressions are everything, so make sure you have a smile on and a happy demeanor because a smile and positivity is usually half the battle. This is one of the steps that can be overlooked. Do not overlook your attitude because even if you are not confident, a smile can show them you are. Specific to the era of COVID-19 and Zoom interviews, a little hack from me to you: look directly into your computer camera, not at the screen. This may sound odd, but to the interviewer on the other end, it will appear as though you are looking them dead in the eyes. And eye contact is as important as a smile.

Make sure that after your introductions you are avoiding common mistakes. First of all, do not have any distractions in front of you or on camera that can cause the interviewer to not pay as much attention to you or even worse, distract you. Next, if you did not do any research beforehand that could bite you in the ass here. Like, seriously. If you do not know simple things such as what the product is, or where the office is, it can look very bad on your part and show that your interest level was not that high in the first place. We have all done this so don’t worry about the past and focus on future interviews. The last common mistake is talking too much. You might be saying, "Isn't that was I'm supposed to do?" The answer to that question is no. Do not go on and on in your answers. Hit all of your points and move on. Also, try to avoid talking about your personal life unless it is specific to the question. For example, if they ask about how you have dealt with rejection, do not talk about how you got rejected for a date with someone and how you overcame that. Talk about something that applies to a professional work environment.

With taking all of the suggestions above, you will be considered even if you do not have the best experience. It is all about showing your best self to the interviewer. You might be surprised by this, but a company could hire you on the potential they see in you and your attitude over your experience. I have seen it happen!

Phase #3 – Post Interview

After a game, an athlete does not just sit around and think about what they have accomplished. They get up and start preparing for the next game or the next step. This is what you need to do and here is how to do it.

It is all about following up. As the interview is wrapping up, talk about how you are very interested in this position and would love to know the next steps. If the last thing said in the interview is about how excited you are about the prospect of working there, I guarantee they will remember that and reach out to you sooner for the next steps. I do this every single time, and it works like a charm!

Once the call is over then you can send them an email thanking them for their time and restating your interest in the role and in the company. You might be saying, ‘Is this too pushy?’ No, it is not. Companies want to hire people that are interested in their company, not just anyone. Another metaphor, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. Be persistent and be tenacious. Also, if you forgot to say a few things or clarify some points you made, throw it in the follow-up email as recruiters love gathering all the data they can on an applicant before choosing who goes onto the next round. You would rather leave them with too much info than not enough.

Now, you’ve got the 3 phases above and it is time to start preparing. Below I am going to add a list of the most commonly asked interview questions so you can start practicing!

Most Common Job Interview Questions

-          Tell me about yourself.

-          What would you bring to the team if hired?

-          How did you hear about this position?

-          Why do you want to go into this line of work?

-          What is your most recent achievement that you are proud of?

-          What are your strengths/weaknesses?

-          What about this role caught your attention?

-          Within an organization, what do you look for in the culture and atmosphere?

-          Talk to me about a time you did not agree with a situation and how you handled it.

-          Where do you see yourself in the next 3-10 years?

-          When it comes to compensation, what are you looking for?

-          What questions do you have for me about the company?

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