[CaptainCrunch]

So I wanted to carry this on in terms of what I did and what worked and what didn't work. I'm currently helping a friend of mine who's going through some struggles, so this will help me get my thoughts straight


The interviews


When you set up your interview, and they send you a range of dates and times, absolutely take the latest slot that you can. Conventionally most people try to get in first. But I always like to be last because if you nail a good interview, they'll make you the benchmark for the people that come in earlier.


Absolutely google your interview(s), linkedin, google, at least get to know a bit about them. I interview with an alumni of my school which was actually kind of fun.


People ask me about dress. I've been shocked in this process in that the interviewers are decidedly casual, so after the first few interviews of severely outdressing my interviewers, I dialed it back a bit. I ditched the tie half way through for some interviews. I interviewed with a company that talked about their casual environment so I took the risk of not wearing a jacket.



Like I mentioned before, if you can devolve you're interview into a conversation you win. If you allow them to "Interrogate" you, you lose, you miss out on a chance of creating common ground. This is why you really have to research the company that your interviewing with and the person that you're talking to.


With the last few interview I managed to swing the interview to getting the company sold to me, I justified that as telling them that I'm particular about who I work for because I put my reputation on the line, and that I'm particular in the companies that I want to work for and have built my search around that. Usually that will get the interviewer curious about why you applied to them, make sure that you have an answer to that besides the free snacks line in their posting.


When they turn the interview over to you to ask questions, please make sure you ask good questions. One interviewer told me that it drove him crazy when people were either asking very few questions, or none at all. Remember my line about acting like you're an investor? This really comes into play. I'm in business development, so I asked questions around how the company supported business development. If they told me that 90% of their efforts were dialing cold calls, I was pretty much out. Its not that I don't like that activity, and I understand that it has to be done, but I was brutally honest with the math of dialer marketing with the interviewer and it allowed me to talk about other activities that I did.


Absolutely ask the interviewer what they like about the organization, and what they would change. You'll be surprised at the answer.


Absolutely ask about the onboarding process. This allows the interviewer to envision you working there.


Ask ask ask. Do not ask about comp in the first couple of interviewers, frankly they will get to it. But when they do, don't just blurt out a salary, ask him what they're commonly paying, ask about benefits and bonuses. Everything is negotiable if you're a strong candidate.


Ok, so you've reached the end of the interview.


Absolutely set bench marks, get dates or time lines for next steps. Set a follow up process. "If I don't hear from you, when do I call you questions" and make sure you're clear on call. Ask him what the next steps entail. If you're going to interview with someone else, make sure you get a name so you can get to work on your research.


Ok, I want to add this in. Unless you're in an art or technical field absolutely refuse to do a proof of concept or any other type of homework. I had one interviewer ask me for a 30 60 90 day sales plan. I refused and drop the company from my strong interest column. First or all, all it takes is one misstep to kill you in the process. B if they're that interested in working with you, doing something like this should require collaboration from the person that you're going to be working for. Homework is a dream killer in the interview process. Don't do it. I responded by reversing the question and asking for a sample of the companies 30 60 90 day sales plan, and he admitted that the established sales people really don't do it, so why should I? I have a 25 year track record of success and exceeding plan, and if we get to the reference stage you'll be able to ask them about that.




Then sum up the interview by asking how you did, did you miss anything that he really needed to check off. This allows him to admit to seeing faults that you can quickly explain or spin.


Ok, so you get done, when you leave make sure you go straight to your car or transportation, I had one guy sit in the lobby to watch me leave, so no fist pumps, or lighting a cigar, or sagging against a wall in exhaustion.


Ok so you're done. The second, and additional interviews follow the same pattern. Research come with questions, turn the interview to them selling the company to you. But before you get there.


24 hours after the interview send an thank you email. Make sure that its not just a thanks email. But re-iterate what you liked about the interview and the opportunity. From you're notes create 2 or 3 bullet points around why you're a strong fit for the position. Restate you're strengths to the position, and end positiviely.


If you've set your bench marks or next steps absolutely follow up with the interviewer so at least you'll know if you're going to the next steps. If you're not, absolutely ask for feedback on your interview so that you can correct any errors, if you have done a good job of setting a discussion, they'll tell you and they'll be honest about it. Leave it positive. You have nothing to lose. Also ask him if he knows anyone else that's looking for someone like you. If you get the next interview, ask him what the context of the next interview is going to be so you can preplan. review you're file of initial research on the company and what you learned in the interview so that you can start filling in the holes that you might have. The next interview is usually going to be tougher and less about personality and more about skills fit, so make sure that you review your skills story.


That's it for today, I'll keep going if you guys are interested.


Among the things that I want to cover off.


How to rank your opportunities.
You get an offer what to do
You get an offer but you are waiting for another opportunity.
What to do once you accept the offer.
Denying on purpose.