4 Interview Tips for Everyone
I have been a recruiter a very long time, and over the course of my career I have developed 4 basic pieces of advice that apply to just about everyone, regardless of the position, industry, or style of interviews.
ONE: talk through your thought process during “problem solving” questions. The name of the interview type says it all: “problem-solving”. Especially for anyone early in your career, this is the way employers are going to judge your aptitude for learning new things, and if you have the mindset to actually tackle business problems as they arrive without a lot of hand holding (which is NOT to be confused with mentoring…this is whether or not you are willing/able to use the tools and resources available to you effectively).
TWO: If the interviewer seems to be pointing you in a different direction than where you are going, or giving you “hints” — generally that means they are looking for something else/other than what you are giving them. Stop, think about what they are saying or the direction they are are nudging you, and don’t hesitate to request clarification.
THREE: ASK QUESTIONS! General questions about the company, specific questions about the role, relationship-building questions about your interviewer. (Check out my detailed guide to formulate questions).
FOUR: Let the interviewer finish talking, don’t assume you are going to know what they are asking; ask clarifying questions if needed before you jump in.
That last one, which in the hiring process is called “making assumptions”, is the SINGLE BIGGEST REASON candidates don’t receive offers. I went into it in more depth a couple of years ago.
