There’s no shortage of advice out there regarding how to perform well in an interview, and it’s easy to get lost in a sea of watered-down information.
Dress the part (obvi). Arrive on time (duh). Show that you’re a team-player (what does that even mean?).
If you glaze over when hearing the same generic advice again and again, you’ll love these Top 3 Tips on how to get that hiring manager saying, “We’d like to make you an offer.”
- Ask Good Questions
Key word: good.
There are certain questions you should definitely not ask (read: anything that can be easily Googled or quickly learned from the company’s homepage.) Avoid general inquiries that the interviewer has likely heard 9,000 times before. And make sure not to ask questions that are shamelessly self-focused (So can I work from home?)*
Think of insightful questions that have to do with the company’s bottom line. What are their goals or ambitious targets for the year? What big projects do they have coming up?
A litmus test for a good interview question is this: what’s a piece of information that I can only uncover by talking to someone who works directly for the company?
2. Have Your Career Narrative Ready To Go
Worried about stumbling through career gaps, a layoff, or lack of experience? A great way to avoid a stutter-fest is to prepare a short summary of your prior work history that artfully ties in with your future goals.
This is called your Career Narrative, and I usually recommend keeping it short, 4 sentences max.
A good Career Narrative follows the format of past, present, future.
For example:
“I began my career working in entry level sales. Later, I took some classes and found a new position at my current company, where I work in logistics. Now, I’m looking to leverage my sales and supply-chain experience into a management position. By doing this, I’ll achieve my goal of moving into a leadership role, while continuing to work toward my eventual dream of starting my own business.”
This is a basic framework you can follow using the past/present/future formula.
Sidenote: I always recommend adding a personal flavor to your narrative by incorporating specific details that are unique to you.
(Psssst in my 1:1 coaching sessions, I help my clients craft a unique narrative that perfectly summarizes their professional history. Fun!)
3. Ask Them What You Can Do For Them
This is the golden rule of a successful interview. It’s super easy to get caught up in ourselves while chatting with a potential employer – and to be clear, there is a place for that (see point #2).
However, after you’ve asked the right questions and learned about the company’s goals and gotten into an easy back-and-forth flow, it’s time to pull your ace.
Ask them what you can do for them.
I suggest framing the what-can-I-do-for you question like this:
“What is your company/team/department’s biggest problem, and how can I be a part of the solution?”
This is a next-level question, and I promise it’ll dramatically increase your chances of moving ahead in the interview process. **
*I’ve actually done this. Cringe.
**Not only that, it’s a fantastic way to show that by hiring you, they’ll have someone who’s solution-oriented and willing put in whatever’s needed to make things happen.
If you’re interested in more interview tips, I’ve got you!
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