How to “Wow” Before, During and After the Interview
Interviews are your opportunity to show why you are a great candidate, how you will fit in with the culture and how you can be successful in the role. It’s also your time to learn enough about the company and position to decide if this is the right fit for you.
With a little extra effort (less than 30 minutes), you will be prepared to hit a homerun!
No strikeouts! Here are tips to wow them with your poise and professionalism before, during and after your interview:
BEFORE
(Clients are always impressed when you’ve done your research and know about the company, and ALWAYS unimpressed when you don’t.)
Research the company and prepare questions
At a minimum, visit the company’s website and social media channels to learn more about the following:
- Overview of the company’s business, top products/services, and mission/vision
- Recent events and/or news about the company
- Company culture and what it’s like working there (Glassdoor reviews)
Know who you are interviewing with
Use the limited one-on-one time you will have with each interviewer to build rapport. To do this effectively, you must first know who you will speak with, their background and their role within the company and how it relates to the position for which you are interviewing – your Recruiter can help you with this.
Be prepared
- In-person: have your driving directions ready ahead of time (and account for traffic/construction)
- Virtual: test your internet connection and confirm you have the correct meeting credentials. Make sure you find a quiet area with limited interruptions (children, pets, etc.).
Dress professionally
Dress professionally from head to toe even for a video interview (just in case you need to stand up for something). Your outfit should be free from distracting patterns or wrinkles, so it doesn’t draw attention away from your conversation. It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed.
DURING
Arrive early
Confirm interview date, time, and time zone before your interview day.
- In-person: arrive 10 minutes early.
- Virtual: join the meeting 5 minutes early in case the first attempt doesn’t work.
Ask the questions you prepared earlier
Develop a list of questions from your company research to ask the interviewer about the position, responsibilities, and company strategy, focus and direction (don’t ask about money or benefits, that comes later). Here are 15 questions we recommend you ask during your interview.
Watch your body language (in-person and virtual)
Watch your body language and maintain eye contact. Avoid fidgeting, rocking in your chair or other behaviors that can distract from your interview or make you appear nervous. Also, turn off or mute your cell phone, do not let this distraction interfere with the interview.
Communicate clearly
Speak clearly and at an even pace, even the best videoconferencing software can have a slow connection or lag time, also microphone quality can impact enunciation. Wait for the interviewer to finish talking or asking the full question before answering.
Talk about your accomplishments and how these translate to the new role
Prepare specific examples of your experiences, accomplishments, and personal skills, which will help to explain and support what you will say in response to the interviewers’ questions.
Have your resume handy to discuss specific examples
You don’t know how much time the interviewer(s) had to review your resume. So, when asked questions about your work experience, projects, or a skill set, reference a specific place on your resume while providing your answer to reinforce your qualifications for the role.
AFTER
Close the interview with confidence
Stay enthusiastic and emphasize your interest in the position, company and moving forward in the interview process. Before leaving any meeting, ask the interviewer “Do you have additional questions, or do you have any concerns about my background or experience”.
Send a thank you email to those involved in the interview
Get a business card from everyone you meet so that you can send them a timely follow-up thank you email. Reference specific talking points from the interview, what makes you a great fit and reinforce your interest.
Communicate with your Recruiter
After your interview, jot down any questions you need to have answered and then call your Recruiter to provide feedback on your interest level. Clients will ask the Recruiter your impression of the interview, so they NEED TO KNOW what that is before the client calls.
Want to know more about interviewing or how we help our IT and Engineering professionals achieve their career goals? Let’s schedule a brief call so you can learn more about how we can help you achieve your goals!
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