How to prepare for an interview?

Many people believe the interview stage is the most important step of the search and selection process. However, I think it is not exactly the interview itself, rather the preparation before it. I would like to share few insides on how to prepare for the interview and what the Hiring Managers are actually looking to find:

1. Yes, your CV comes first

Take your time and prepare a CV that actually aligns with the position you want to apply for. Using one and the same CV for different positions is like trying to fit the same clothes on different body shapes – it won’t work. First, look at the job ad, highlight those things that they are actually looking for. Second, rewrite your CV in a way it meets company’s need – use same/similar words, write those achievements of your past experience, which align with the image of the candidate they are searching for. In few words – adapt what you’ve been doing in the past and show the Hiring Manager how your knowledge would help you become a good fit to the team.

2. Show them you know where you’ve applied to

How many of you have been in the following situation:

Interviewer: “What do you know about our company? Why you’ve applied here?”

Candidate: “Well, I expect you to share more information on this meeting.”

Of course, no one expects a candidate to know the company, its structure and the scope of business from head to toe. Nonetheless, this is the place you can show you are not an average candidate. Before you go to an interview (even before you decide to apply for a certain company) do your homework: check the firm’s history & values, where it started from, how it developed over time, what is the scope of business, who is the CEO, what the team you’ve applied to actually does on daily basis?

This will show the Hiring Manager that you go deep when a task is assigned to you – you find the relevant information, you pay attention to details and you are always prepared. Being able to see the big picture and where your role would be in it, is extremely valuable skill – do not underestimate the opportunity to show you’ve got it at early stage.

3. What do you want to achieve? Where do you want to be in the next few years?

I know this is a rather boring and useless question to many of the candidates, but there is a reason why this one is asked on regular basis. For me (an exceptional) candidate would know what he wants to achieve in future. If you really think about it, no one starts on a position hoping he will stay on the same level forever. And you should not be nervous to say that in few years you want to do something else. Drawing a line of your future career path by knowing what skills set you need to acquire, is very important for a Hiring Manager – this way he would know what to expect from you and how to manage your performance in order to achieve your career development plan.

4. Ask questions

Every interviewer gives chance to the candidate to ask questions at the end of the interview. Take your time and think of those before you go to the meeting (you can even write questions down on a paper and bring it with you).

Be curious about the job itself and how it aligns with your expectations, because the interview is a two way process – both you and the HM are testing and evaluating each other. So take the opportunity and ask what is important to in terms of personal development. Being prepared for that part of the interview means you think (and you care) what would happen in advance; you go to a meeting prepared and you ask relevant questions (this means questions like “Do you have home office and how often is that?”, “Can I come at 9.30am, not at 9am, as I cannot get up that early?”, etc are not the best ones to ask).

5. Salary expectations

Many times I had to explain why sharing salary expectations is important. Think of it as Erich Remarque did: “Money is freedom made of gold.” There is nothing wrong with saying how much your labor costs. You are not bagging for charity, you just declare what’s the price tag of your time, effort and stress. So do not be afraid to share exact number without having to explain how much your mortgage is, how much your kid’s garden costs, etc. It is what it is. And every Hiring Manager would value your honesty and straightforwardness.

Of course there are many other things you could do to prepare for an interview and blow the HM’s hat, but I believe these are the basic things to think about and start with. To sum up: adjust your CV, be prepared, draw a line of your desired development, ask relevant questions, and know your price.