3 Ways to Prepare for Your Best Interview Yet

After a year of slim to no hiring, the job market is heating up. If you’re considering new opportunities, you’re probably faced with multiple job opportunities at once, juggling interviewing with existing work demands.

And yet while 2021 might be a candidate’s market, companies are not lessening their expectations: every one of our clients emphasizes that candidates need to be prepared. In fact, there’s still about 9.7 million Americans unemployed, “per the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or more if you’re counting those who are underemployed.”[1]

Companies are concerned—in some cases, more than ever—that they find the right fit for the role. So what does that mean for you? If you land an interview, you need to prepare. Here are three simple tips for acing your interview.

Know who you’re talking to.

It’s the most basic step of interviewing, and yet the most often skipped. Take the time to research the company you’re talking to, as well as the team of people you’re interviewing with. Companies expect you to have a basic understanding of the organization. Extra bonus points go for understanding the business drivers of the company and what makes them unique.

Think about it this way: you’d google anyone you’re going out with on a first date, right?  Look at the company’s social media, values, and even their history. All of these are clues as to where they’re headed and what kind of team player they’re looking for.

If you’re working with a recruiter, make sure you ask for a list of who you’re meeting with and if there is any specific type of interview style being used. For example, you don’t want to walk into a behavioral interview without being prepared for what’s to come.

Know your answers to the most common questions.

They might be over-used, but they’re common for a reason. I must have said “Tell me about yourself” thousands of times over the years I’ve been interviewing candidates, and I’m sure I’m not alone! Other common questions are: “Where do you want to be in five years?” and “Why are you leaving your current company?”

The better you can answer these questions, the more you’ll inspire confidence that you know what you’re looking for in the next opportunity.

Consider if you can succinctly describe who you are and what you’re looking for. Getting your “elevator pitch” tight is one of the biggest challenges (and one most everyone is still working on!).

Be yourself.

Follow all the above advice, yes, but the most important thing is to be yourself. That’s who you’re going to bring to the job every day, after all, so if you hide who you really are, you (and the company) will just end up being disappointed in the long run.

Being comfortable in your own skin will allow you to shine to your full potential. You will add a significant degree of value to the right organization at the right time. Does that mean every job is going to work out? No. But waiting for the right fit, where you’re valued for who you are and what you bring, is worth every minute of the wait.

For more tactical tips on how to best prepare for the perfect interview, visit The Muse. We’ll also be happy to walk you through our signature Interview Preparation model to help you get ready for the big conversation.

Your career matters. Take the time to get ready for your next right step.

[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/24/travel/job-market-tips.html