How to Nail the Interview

Interviews are important. They are something that most people will participate in numerous times throughout their life. Whether you are interviewing for your dream job or are at that point in your career where you are now starting to interview people for your company, everyone should know how to nail being in an interview setting.

In anticipation of our seminar at ASID’s The Leadership Experience summit in Washington, DC on July 21st, here are our top tips for “nailing the interview” no matter what side of the table you are on.

1. 1. Confidence! Similar to dogs smelling fear, you can tell when someone you are speaking with is uncomfortable. There is no need to be stressed out, you already made it through the hardest part – getting the interview! Have a meeting is the “main meal”, this is your chance to share what you are passionate about and your professional aspirations. Smile, be relaxed, know your worth and how to articulate it. Side note – Today an interview goes both ways so be prepared to talk about yourself and what you enjoy about your role if you are conducting the interview.  
   2. Be prepared. Don’t waste anyone’s time. Know who you are meeting. Know what you want to get out of the discussion. With access to a plethora of information online it is expected that both the interviewer and interviewee have done research on who they are meeting and are coming to the table with an understanding of that person’s background. This is a great time to show a potential employer that you take the time to do research and your due diligence (both good traits to highlight!).
   3. Know what you want to obtain. An offer of course, but what information do you want to gain? Knowing what type of work you would be focusing on? Understanding how teams are structured? Knowing your potential for growth in the future? Knowing what information you want to gather and asking pointed questions shows you are taking this discussion seriously (and are prepared!). Interviewer perspective – know what you want to gain from the meeting as well! Don’t spend the entire time going over someone’s resume. Take five minutes before to look at someone’s resume and experience and know what you want to focus the discussion on (i.e. not just asking them to regurgitate their resume).  
   4. Maintain your composure – You are halfway through the meeting and you know this isn’t the right fit. Don’t give up and walk away, maintaining your composure throughout the meeting is paramount! Interviews are a walking billboard for you and your brand. Even if you don’t get the job or choose to not accept the offer the likelihood of you running into your interviewer again at an industry event is extremely high. Same goes for an interviewer – Making sure everyone who meets you has a positive view of your firm even if they are not a fit for your organization is extremely important. Goal: have everyone who encounters you think and speak highly of you.
   5. Set the expectation – You leave the meeting feeling like you killed it and then panic when you haven’t heard from them by the time you got home. There is an easy way to avoid the pending paranoia, set the expectation in the meeting! Before you leave a discussion confirm when is best to follow up. Ask if there is a particular timeframe on when a decision will be made. Don’t be pushy but show that you are interested in the opportunity and are taking this process seriously.

Above all, remember to be yourself! There is nothing worse than presenting yourself one way/thinking a firm is something and then realizing after that it is not the right fit. Be authentic to you and the right match will come!

In DC July 19-21? You can check out further details on The Leadership Experience summit hosted by ASID and how to attend here. Designforce will be holding a seminar on Saturday, July 21st at 10 AM titled “I’m the Captain Now: Interviewee to Interviewer”, join us there to learn more about how to nail the interview setting as an interviewer!