1 00:00:00,060 --> 00:00:04,650 Hi, I am Jonathan McIntosh, partner and recruiter with Thinking Ahead Executive Search. 2 00:00:04,830 --> 00:00:07,229 And I'm Chris Spagnola, partner Recruiter with Thinking Ahead. 3 00:00:07,229 --> 00:00:08,160 Executive Search. 4 00:00:08,340 --> 00:00:10,680 Congratulations, you've landed a first interview. 5 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:16,470 We believe that the outcome of your interview is greatly dependent on the preparation that goes into it. 6 00:00:16,709 --> 00:00:21,209 With that in mind, here are a few tips to help prepare you for your big day. 7 00:00:21,540 --> 00:00:27,959 Number one, and this may seem like a really obvious tip, but you wanna make sure that you do some research on the organization or company. 8 00:00:28,455 --> 00:00:31,724 Make sure that you know the name and title of everyone that you're meeting with that day. 9 00:00:32,025 --> 00:00:38,145 And as you think through the organization or company, don't just think about the job and how you would fit with that specific job. 10 00:00:38,325 --> 00:00:43,905 Think about the broader mission and brand of the organization and how you really connect with it at a heart level. 11 00:00:43,905 --> 00:00:45,960 I. So you learning about the company. 12 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:51,120 Also, make sure you spend some time to revisit yourself and your own accomplishments. 13 00:00:51,330 --> 00:00:57,840 Sometimes your long-term memory is suspect when you're nervous, and so people forget the things that they think they know really well. 14 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:02,880 In advance of the interview, make sure you go back through the position description, even if you think you know the position description. 15 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:10,020 Well go back through the position description and very carefully map your experience onto the position description item by item. 16 00:01:10,485 --> 00:01:12,255 Think through your key accomplishments. 17 00:01:12,405 --> 00:01:14,475 What goals have you hit or exceeded? 18 00:01:14,655 --> 00:01:18,465 Have you increased revenue for your company or organization? 19 00:01:18,465 --> 00:01:20,414 Have you impacted the bottom line? 20 00:01:20,595 --> 00:01:24,104 Quantify those achievements, qualify them. 21 00:01:24,164 --> 00:01:25,545 Be ready to talk about them. 22 00:01:25,545 --> 00:01:28,545 Practice them so that you can share them succinctly. 23 00:01:28,545 --> 00:01:32,235 But informatively with the interviewer, that's what they wanna hear about. 24 00:01:32,495 --> 00:01:36,274 Thirdly, we'd say make sure you prepare strong questions to ask the interview team. 25 00:01:36,515 --> 00:01:40,295 You wanna make sure you prepare your questions before you go in for the interview. 26 00:01:40,625 --> 00:01:46,475 There will be some questions that come up during conversation naturally, of course, but definitely take some time to think through. 27 00:01:46,979 --> 00:01:53,130 What do you need to know about this position, about the organization to determine? 28 00:01:53,130 --> 00:01:57,449 Do you wanna move forward to a next step if you're invited back for a second interview? 29 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:09,210 I also like to encourage people to really think through, what's a good question that I can ask that will open up dialogue with the person I'm sitting across from that'll help me learn more about the organization and the job itself. 30 00:02:09,644 --> 00:02:13,245 Lastly, we always get asked, what should I wear to my interview? 31 00:02:13,394 --> 00:02:18,405 And when in doubt we say, err on the side of professional and conservative. 32 00:02:18,644 --> 00:02:23,505 The interviewer should be concentrating on what you're saying to them and not what you're wearing. 33 00:02:23,505 --> 00:02:25,665 I. Now let's talk about the interview itself. 34 00:02:26,175 --> 00:02:29,385 Here's some common sense reminders that we think help day of. 35 00:02:29,505 --> 00:02:32,535 Number one, it may go without saying, but know where you're going. 36 00:02:32,625 --> 00:02:42,734 Make sure you know the location of the company, who you're gonna meet with, how you need to get through specific security steps, and leave enough time for your commute. 37 00:02:43,095 --> 00:02:46,515 More along that line of common sense reminders. 38 00:02:46,635 --> 00:02:48,915 Smile during the interview. 39 00:02:49,065 --> 00:02:52,755 Have great eye contact with people that you meet or that you're talking with. 40 00:02:52,769 --> 00:02:54,779 And have a firm handshake. 41 00:02:55,079 --> 00:03:01,049 We would say slow down, take a deep breath, breathe, and make sure you're listening during the interview. 42 00:03:01,290 --> 00:03:06,299 Sometimes when people get excited or nervous, they speak too much and sometimes interrupt the interviewer. 43 00:03:06,390 --> 00:03:13,170 And more than once, we've seen a qualified candidate not get a second interview because they kept interrupting the person doing the interviewing. 44 00:03:13,619 --> 00:03:15,779 So we all have different communication styles. 45 00:03:15,929 --> 00:03:20,489 Some of us are more verbose and some of us are very succinct in our answers. 46 00:03:20,805 --> 00:03:25,095 We have something we like to refer to as more of an interview style in your communication. 47 00:03:25,095 --> 00:03:41,715 So that may mean that you have to moderate your natural tendencies, but you wanna make sure that you are giving enough information so there's enough detail to answer that specific question that they've asked you, but you're succinct enough so that they can move on to the next question. 48 00:03:41,715 --> 00:03:48,945 They have a handful of questions they're trying to work through with you in a span of an hour, and they also wanna give you time to ask questions at the end of the interview. 49 00:03:49,380 --> 00:03:52,200 Yeah, make sure that you're specific in the way that you answer the question. 50 00:03:52,499 --> 00:03:52,649 Yeah. 51 00:03:52,649 --> 00:04:07,230 We've had clients tell us before, well, they never really answered the question that I asked them, and we know there's a communication issue at that point, so make sure that for any question that's asked of you, you're providing an answer that is specific to that question. 52 00:04:07,679 --> 00:04:17,985 Sidebar comment, especially in speaking about your former or current employer, make sure you don't go negative, be truthful, but never go negative about somebody you've worked with or for. 53 00:04:18,780 --> 00:04:27,420 As the interview moves towards the close, restate your enthusiasm and your desire to take next steps in the process. 54 00:04:27,630 --> 00:04:29,790 In sales parlance, this is the close. 55 00:04:29,790 --> 00:04:35,670 You wanna make sure that they know that you're enthusiastic about it and that you really do want to take the next step in the process. 56 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:42,330 And part of that is, is seeing if you can uncover any lingering objections or concerns that the interviewer might have. 57 00:04:42,330 --> 00:04:52,950 So as they're closing the interview, one thing we like to suggest that people ask in your own words is, do you have any lingering questions about my experience that we haven't addressed yet? 58 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:55,650 And that gives the interviewer a chance to address it right there. 59 00:04:55,650 --> 00:04:57,240 And you can bring clarification. 60 00:04:57,660 --> 00:05:07,680 Now, of course you're gonna wanna do your best, but at the end of the day, whether the client organization likes you or responds to what you're saying or not, that's completely outside of your control. 61 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:13,140 So go into the interview with an energy where you've really let the outcome go. 62 00:05:13,290 --> 00:05:17,550 It's never helpful to have a desperate or clingy vibe about you. 63 00:05:17,910 --> 00:05:21,690 The most important thing in the interview is to just be yourself. 64 00:05:21,780 --> 00:05:23,790 You're gonna be the one that's doing the job. 65 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:27,780 You're gonna be the one that's working with the person in front of you, so be yourself. 66 00:05:27,930 --> 00:05:30,300 That's the most important thing that we can share with you. 67 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:33,120 Now, let's talk about what to do post interview. 68 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:41,670 Pretty soon after the end of the year interview, you're either gonna wanna have a conversation with your recruiter or get a loan and jot down some thoughts while they're still fresh. 69 00:05:42,015 --> 00:05:45,255 Ask yourself, did I find out anything new about the job? 70 00:05:45,465 --> 00:05:48,105 Or was anything clarified that I didn't know before? 71 00:05:48,315 --> 00:05:53,535 And ask yourself honestly, based on what I know about the job now, do I still feel like I can do the job? 72 00:05:53,835 --> 00:05:58,695 How has this interview and the information that you've learned affected your enthusiasm for the job? 73 00:05:59,115 --> 00:06:03,795 Also ask yourself, are there any lingering questions that I have? 74 00:06:03,795 --> 00:06:08,715 What else do I still need to learn about this opportunity before I'm ready to accept an offer? 75 00:06:09,045 --> 00:06:16,965 Yeah, we'd say it's very important for you to be as honest with yourself and with your recruiter during this post-interview process as possible. 76 00:06:17,135 --> 00:06:22,505 One other thing that we always encourage you to do is send a thank you note after your interview. 77 00:06:22,775 --> 00:06:27,515 Most people do this now by email and you wanna do it within 24 hours of your interview. 78 00:06:27,755 --> 00:06:29,435 The note can be short and sweet. 79 00:06:29,525 --> 00:06:34,985 You really wanna make sure you've got correct grammar and spelling, including the name of your interviewer. 80 00:06:35,255 --> 00:06:36,275 Good luck with your interview.