How to nail an interview

[CaptainCrunch]

I think this is a really important thread especially for those of us that are out there looking for work.

So another tip, if your using a placement firm or recruiting agency to coordinate with some of your prospects, don't be afraid to leverage them.

For example I'm moving into a second interview with a firm tommorrow through this placement agency. The first interview went really well, my references were very good. So my placement agency has set up a second interview with the principles in this firm.

A) When your discussing compensation, you have to realize that the placement agency is going to want to get as much as they can because they are paid based on a percentage. The best thing to do is give them a three range. The first being the below point that you won't accept. This can be difficult because packages are built around multiple factors. The second one is the mid point, the smart move is to base it around your last compensation if you were happy about it. the third is the ideal perfect compensation package. For example I want the base and commissions structure to be able to take me to $125k.

Next think of your recruiter as your talent agent and be honest with him and communicate other opportunities and where your at with them.

For example If I'm going into a second interview I can tell my recruiter that I'm working on 5 different opportunities that I'm really interested in, 2 are in second interview phases, one wants to fly me out to their home office, and two are in the same industry and I've done my first interview. That way your recruiter can leverage that in his discussions with his clients and put a little bit of pressure to close things..

Really important for you to prep your references, talk to them, let them know what kind of role your looking at. Emphasize the things that you don't want to be disclosed. But encourage them to be honest about your strengths and weaknesses. If you make them lie for you, then you probably won't be able to use them as a reference again.

As far as the interviews themselves, there are three important points. One is research, don't just go to their website, go to linkedin, google their name and look for news, come up with some great questions based on similar organizations out there as well.

Some people forget that interviews are a sales opportunity. But Captain you say, I'm not a sales person and I hate selling. Doesn't matter, take your research and your strengths and create 4 or 5 FABs (Feature Advantage Benefits)

Mr Employer, I've been in business to business technology sales for 20 years, because of that I understand how to position technology products and use them to solve business problems. If I bring that to your organization, I can help match your clients to your solutions and do it effectively.

At the end of the interview when they open the floor to questions, have some good questions, be naturally curious. You can get questions from two places. Your research.

Mr Employer, I did a bit of research on what your selling, and I see some similar products on the market. What separates yours from XYZ Companies?

Don't be afraid to ask about culture in the company, and when I talk about culture, whats your management style? Why did the last employee leave this role? Give me an example of a major company success in the last year? How many people in this organization started in different roles?

Etc

Then ask the tough question. Based on my skills knowledge and behavior and this interview, do you feel that I'm a great fit for your organization?

Some other important things.

If your dealing with a recruiting firm thats marketing you, then keep control of him/her. Set deadlines.

If your not and your direct to companies, set deadlines, but use your leverage points that we talked about before to help them narrow their search.

If it doesn't feel like a good fit institutionally don't be afraid to talk about this.

Mr Employer, this sounds really exciting to me, but I do have some concerns about fit and experience and how it works with this position, maybe we can talk about that a little bit more so I can make sure that this will lead to a lasting relationship.

You have to make sure that your as comfortable going in as they are hiring you. I made the mistake of joining a firm very recently and I went against my instincts. In other words part of me knew that it was a terrible fit, and I went forward with it because I was sold on the position and I ignored that nagging voice in my head that it wasn't what I wanted to do.

Hope this helps someone.

[Locke]

Dont be afraid to tell them how much time you spend on CP.

Go ahead, what could it hurt?

[FFR]

Originally Posted by Locke

Dont be afraid to tell them how much time you spend on CP.

Go ahead, what could it hurt?

I think I would be fired. Haha.

[V]

I'd like to echo a lot of what Cap'n has to say.

From my point of view as a hiring manager:

Your question phase of the interview is vital for your success. I'm looking for well thought-out questions based on two things, a) your research on my company and b) the information you gleaned from the interview process. If all I get is "what's the next step in the hiring process?" then you've been written off before the interview is over. If you can't think critically enough to come up with something useful then I'm not interested.

Your knowledge of my company, and specifically my corner of the company is also highly important. If you can't be bothered to come to the interview prepared then I can't be bothered to give you a fighting chance.

[Kerplunk]

I have yet to judge an interviewee based on the questions they ask during an interview, however that may be more because of how the company operates and it's culture than anything else. I see the question period more as a chance for them to gain knowledge of the work environment than another chance for me to write them off. Usually by the point in the conversation where they would ask questions, I have already gleaned what their technical knowledge is and decided if they will be suitable for the work we would be handing them. For me, how they answer the questions I ask and how they handle themselves during the interview are more important than how far into the company website they mined.