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Hunting for a job can be overwhelming, especially when you are both new in the industry and location. How do you nail it?
I have been there, worked for ten years in a multi-geographic location and then one day, I decided to do a full-time second master's from London; that's brave Anjuli! On my degree completion, the tables were turned, and now I must be interviewed for my next role. From CV writing, exploring job boards, contacting recruiters, and sailing through the interview like a pro, I knew a lot goes into being a successful candidate! And that’s top of having the right experience, competencies and power skills.
Do you know “9.8 million employed people are actively looking for a role every day in the UK”? That means at any given time, an estimated 30% of employees are actively seeking a new role; wow! And I was an unemployed student looking to make my first role in London. I mean, give me a break! These people are already in a job and hunting for the next one; I really need to work smart.
So when you finally get an invite for an interview, how do you bring your A-game? And now you know, this was my actual starting point in London. I came from 10 years of experience interviewing people of all levels, from associates to directors, about what could go wrong, and I was confident I would nail it.
I started my work by learning about their industry, competition, company, people, culture, mission- values. There is a lot you can find out on the internet these days, and this is your homework, but if you would like to take your interview to an experience you and the interviewer both remember, you must go the extra mile for it. Let me tell you, my first interview could have been more successful. That doesn’t mean I was incompetent, so I tried repeatedly until I had that offer letter.
Now, I am taking around 10-12 interviews every week. I am meeting these new people, understanding their purpose in life and what inspires them is itself an experience for me and trust me, 90 % of them are really outstanding, competent and excellent candidates, but who goes to the final level depends on the following :
Is your story interesting? If not make it!
I bet you know the very first question in the interview is "Tell me about yourself"? And here are your 60 seconds to tell them how amazing you are. Knowing that this might be the first question, prepare yourself in advance. Write your script, create a story and hone your pitch! Have you practised? If not, do it in front of the mirror with your partner or friends. This is the time you are going to create your solid first impression. Summarise your journey, and tell them how you make an impact by doing extraordinary things in just 60 seconds. This is your first challenge!
You are a STAR!
Interviewers have their script written and primarily their questions are designed to assess potential fit. In my last interview, I prepared myself for 34 questions in STAR format. You can have your list of questions and make your answers in a way that entails a story and demonstrates your competence for the role. Stories are memorable, keep them short and know them well. Can you think of the situation, what task you performed, what action took and how the result impacted the whole business? What did you learn from that experience? This is how your answer should be.
I know it's a lot to answer, but if you practice, you will confidently nail it.
Did you work on your numbers?
For me, it was how much money you saved for the company in recruitment, retention, developing key successors, automating and saving work hours etc. So, think about your role and quantify your accomplishments. Maybe you have brought a new process or system that saved x amount of money in the company, or you created a program that has a lasting impact on the organisation. Like a story, you don't forget numbers quickly, and the interviewer knows that you have business acumen as well.
Cultural fit or Cultural add?
I would say both, and many interviewers would like to know your value system. Sometimes I ask my candidates what their life mantra is and they get amazed to get into this conversation. I focus on asking about their purpose in life and what stage of Maslow's theory they are in; sounds interesting, right? How passionate are they about their work? What do they like about working with people? Are they team collaborators or individual contributors? Let me tell you, no answer is right or wrong in this discussion. You have to be authentic to yourself and the interviewer. You can always direct the conversation in knowing more about company culture and values and slowly gaze at whether you will be the fit here or not.
Do you have some great questions to ask?
Don't ask how many rounds of interviews there are; this is a very generic question. At this stage, you want to make an informed decision, so you should have a list of important questions. If I were the interviewee, I would ask the interviewer- What do you like the most about working in this company? What the culture looks like? How is my role going to make a difference in the company? Do we have 30/60/90 days plan for me? What's the career progression in this role?
There are many questions you can ask but be focused on the one that helps you to make an informed decision. End-of-the-day interviews are a two-way street, the way they interview you; it's your chance to assess the role, people and company too.
Stand out from the crowd! Don’t be afraid to be yourself; bring your personality, and try to have some fun along the way.
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