How Do I Know If the Interview Went Well?
What to do before, during, and after your interview
One of the best emails in the inbox of a job-seeker is, “Congratulations! You got the interview!” I imagine they don’t use quite as many exclamation points, but you get the idea.
Now the (sometimes panicked) question you’re asking as the interviewee is “How do I prepare!?”
This blog will give you some ideas on what to do before, during, and after your interview to ensure you put your best foot forward and present yourself in a way that highlights your skills, strengths, and expertise.
Do Your Homework
Before you sit down to speak with the interviewer, do some pre-homework on the specific company, the job description, and the industry. Know what’s happening in the news around the industry and learn as much as you can about the company.
If you’re aware of who the interviewer is, you can also look at their profile on LinkedIn and gain some insights on them as well as see if you have any mutual connections. Learn as much as you can before going in, and prepare with questions of your own you’d like to ask about the job itself and the company.
Practice with potential interview questions and think of stories that you can use when answering so you’re using your own personal examples and experience that can fit into various skill sets they might inquire about.
On Interview Day
Show up on time, well-groomed and professional. When you meet with the interviewer, there’s a bit of a process in how to effectively answer questions. I recommend my clients practice a bit so they can feel comfortable and fully like themselves while moving through their answers.
When the interviewer asks you a question, begin by summarizing what they’re asking you to ensure you understand it. Then give them an example of what you did to achieve that as it relates to their question or how you handled the situation they’re referring to. From there, you can build on your answer with how your specific skills set helped you through the experience and a lesson learned. For example, would you do it that way again or if you were to have another opportunity, would you have done it differently based on what you’ve learned since?
You don’t always have to use positive examples. We’re not always perfect employees all of the time. Include times you’ve maybe had a negative experience, how it impacted you, what you learned from it, and how you turned the situation around.
Should I Lie in an Interview?
In short, it never ends well when you lie. Don’t sacrifice the long-term for short-term comfort. While it might be tempting to exaggerate your qualifications or experiences, or avoid truths to paint yourself in a positive light, it’s important to avoid lying for several reasons:
It’s unethical and can harm your professional reputation and integrity. There can be serious consequences for being dishonest.
Employers often reach out for referrals, past jobs, and search you online to verify information. If they’ve discovered you lied, you will typically be disqualified from consideration immediately (and in some instances, terminated if hired).
If you lie about skills you possess vs. what the job requires, you can find yourself struggling to meet the expectations of the job.
Rather than lying, focus on presenting your strengths, skills, and experience intentionally and honestly. Admit when there’s an opportunity for you to learn and grow and express willingness to do so when you lack experience or skills.
Honesty and authenticity are long-term plays.
Ask Good Questions
You’d be surprised how many job seekers don’t ask questions of the interviewer at all. One way to easily set yourself apart is to ask questions. Good questions.
At the end, when the interviewer asks, “Do you have any questions for us?”
Ask what the culture is like, ask what they’re favorite aspect of the company is, ask a question that is a make it or break it for you as an employee. When they answer, rather than just drop it, you can often use the opportunity to come back to your skills and strengths. Here’s a short example of how this could look:
You: “What kinds of team-building opportunities does your company engage in?”
Interviewer: “Every year, we have a company conference where we work on strengths, skills, communication, and interpersonal aspects amongst our teams.”
You: “Wow, Steve, thanks for telling me more about that, that sounds great! That really fits into what I’m looking for in a workplace because of my values in collaboration and cooperation.”
Bring it back to why you belong and why you’re a great choice based on their response.
Additional questions you might ask are what the timeline is for filling the role, how many candidates they’re planning on moving forward, and how best to keep in touch with them to follow up about the position.
Follow Up with a Thank You
After the interview, write a thank you within 24-hours using the contact information you’re given. Say thank you for the opportunity to meet with them and pull out something in your conversation that you really appreciated they asked or highlighted. Let them know you’re looking forward to hearing back from them and being a part of the organization and you’ll follow up within the timeframe specified in the interview.
Because I get asked this all the time, yes, it’s ok to follow up with them again a second time and ask if you’re still being considered for the position.
Last Words from a Coach
One of my biggest pieces of advice in ensuring your interview goes well is to try to leave your nervousness and your ego at the door. Don’t enter the interview with something to prove and be your authentic genuine self.
As a coach who works with many clients seeking job opportunities and navigating career transitions, I can help you every step of the way through the job hunting process from resume to interview, to follow up!
Together, we’ll go through the process and I’ll help you highlight your strengths and be comfortable so you can stand out from all the noise and ace the interview!
