5 Interview Process Best Practices (Emma's Version)
5 Interview Process Best Practices (Emma's Version)
Are you or someone you know in the process of interviewing for a new role? In this AI-heavy, fast-paced world, it can be easy to muddle the lines between authentic connection and automation. As someone who has had the honor of conducting over 1000 interview with candidates for Financial Growth Partners, here are a few pro tips that I believe set rockstars apart from the crowd...
1.Research The Company
Read up on the company's core values, mission statement, and leadership team. Also, check out their social media presence. This preparation means that you care, are willing to pay attention to details, contributes to helping build belief that you are a fit for the organization.
2. Run Reconnaissance
Know your interviewer's name, role, and a few key facts about them to bring up during your conversation together. You can do this by checking out their LinkedIn profile, or most companies have bios of their leadership on their website, as well. This practices shows that you are paying attention and choosing to dedicate time to knowledge and building relationships.
3. Listen WELL
- During the interview, make sure you are in a non-distracting environment (on a laptop if meeting virtually, vs. your cell phone), with limited background noise, and a still Zoom or Teams background.
- Come prepared with questions you have surrounding the industry, the company, and the role. Be authentically yourself but do put some work in beforehand to show that you care about the time you are spending with the interviewer.
Take notes. - For additional active listening practices, check out one of my favorite articles on this topic here. Have the courage to assess yourself and be honest with which level of listening you believe you are currently at.
4. Express Gratitude
- Send a personal thank you note- via email, handwritten, or LinkedIn message - expressing gratitude for the person's time and what you enjoyed about the conversation. This honors the other person and sets you apart from the vast majority of applicants.
- We can tell when AI is used for this - so if you're using AI as a tool, at least make it sound more conversational and less robotic. Think - how would this sound if I read this aloud? Like the self-checkout voice at the grocery store, or the voice of your favorite teacher growing up?
5. Know Yourself
Take some time to truly know yourself, what sets you apart from other candidates, and your reasons for applying for this specific role. Your interviewer is most likely going to bring up questions surrounding this, so hone in on what you believe makes YOU uniquely special and a great fit for the role. Be prepared to share your strengths, passions, areas for growth, and a story or two surrounding each.