Wrote it for a friend. Dropping it here in case it helps anyone.
1. Explain how you would add value to the company, not how the company would add value to you/your career.
The interviewer doesn’t give a shit how much you want this job or love the company. They want to know what’s in it for them, their team, and their organization. You must make this crystal clear.
- BAD: “This job is a great opportunity to learn and grow for me and my career.”
- GOOD: “My Java/HTML/C++ skills will make the company stronger because I’m able to add a coding language to the team. I’m also skilled in organization and people management so when you hire me you get a software programmer, project manager, and client manager all in one.”
2. Tie your professional experience and skills to the position, do not laundry list your experience.
- BAD: “I want to be a programmer for your company because I did 3 years at Apple, 2 years at Google, 1 year at Microsoft. At Apple, my responsibilities were … etc etc.”
- GOOD: “This position for a programmer states it’s looking for someone who has experience designing user interfaces. At Apple, I developed the user interface for the iPhone from start to finish. Through that project, I gained great insight and experience in XYZ … etc. etc.”
For this reason, I recommend you print out every job description/posting and bring it to the interview with your resume so you can link the two together. Review prior to the interview and jot applicable examples of your experience beside every responsibility the position asks for.
3. Emphasize cultural fit and attitude.
- Example clutch line I use all the time: “I’m applying to a team, not a job position.”
A lot of people I interview are hyper focused on proving they are the BEST qualified person for the job without realizing there’s a second question in the back of the interviewer’s mind … "Even if this person IS qualified .. DO I WANT TO WORK WITH HIM/HER ON A DAILY BASIS?“
If you’re qualified but obnoxious, the answer is usually no unless you’re applying to a position where you’re working alone, away from colleagues and clients that you’d piss off, all the time. Unlikely.
To be vague is to be boring. To be boring is to be forgettable. To be forgettable is to lose the job. Every statement you say MUST be backed up with a ’because …’
- BAD: “I’m a strong and proven performer with a solid work ethic. I work really hard, I can make changes happen fast, and I can deliver results.”
- GOOD: “I’m a strong and proven performer because my team and I increased profits by 10% in the first year.” I have a solid work ethic because I was able to manage 5 consulting projects on Z topic with tight deadlines at the same time and deliver Y results.“
5. It’s better to talk slower than too fast.
If you need a second to think, stop and think. Don’t word vomit. It’s better to appear thoughtful and deliberate than nervous and reckless.
6. Take notes when the interviewer is speaking even if you’re not really writing anything.
It’s a psychological trick to make it seem like you’re engaged. 80% looking at the interviewer and nodding, 20% jotting down notes. Do not stare at a notepad and scribble furiously.
7. When the interviewer asks at the end of the interview, “do you have any questions?” – always ask questions.
Safe choices for questions:
- What can I do in this position to exceed your expectations?/What do you look for in a great team member?
- Can you give me an idea of what the day-to-day of this position is like?
- Clutch question: why did you choose to work for this company?/what do you enjoy most about working for this company?
8. When the interviewer asks for your greatest weakness … say something.
Approach this question with caution because this is a trick question. If you say nothing you’ll be seen as arrogant but if you say too much your flaws can turn the interviewer off to hiring you.
- Clutch answer I always use: “My weakness is that when it comes to projects and tight deadlines I can become too intense and focused on finishing them that I can overwork myself.”
This is a good answer because it’s not really a weakness, it’s actually a strength.
Bonus: As an ENTJ, it’s also not a lie. But even if it doesn’t apply to you .. it still works.
9. Seize on any common ground with the interviewer that’s completely unrelated to the job.
Odds are this isn’t your interviewer’s first or last interview of the day so breaking the monotony of talking about the same shit repeatedly can be a welcome change. I went to UCLA and USC so football is a huge topic. I’ve been in job interviews where we just talked football and basketball even if the interviewer wasn’t an alum of either school. Dogs, hiking, food, etc.
If you can make the interviewer laugh – good, if you can make the interviewer relate to you – better, if you can make the interviewer remember you – best.
10. Master the basics and minor details.
Dress appropriately – a given, but still needs to be said. Black dress shoes, navy/gray suit with a solid color tie. Also, practice moving around in the suit before the interview so you can learn to be as comfortable and natural as possible when you arrive on interview day.
Brush your teeth, do not wear cologne, come 15 minutes early (not earlier, and never later), make sure your resume is 1 page in clear font without any colors, send thank you notes after the interview, blah blah.
2087
stormborns
titsay
kianamaiart
gummygunk
ellievsbear
romaincrisis
izzy806
