Here are a few more tips to use when doing your next interview. If you know someone else who is about to be interviewed, share these tips with them too!
Tip #1 – Pay attention to everything around you from the moment you get there until you leave. Here are some examples:
- What does the company entrance look like? Is it easy to navigate with signs for visitors/clients? Do they have spots for hybrid cars? Do certain levels or award winners get special parking spots? This info could tell you a lot about the type of culture and how things are organized. All of these details show what is important to them as a company (environmentally focused, fun, customers are important.)
- How were you greeted when you walked in? Did they seem warm and welcoming or cold and overly professional?
- How are people interacting with each other? Respectfully, friendly or polite? How is their body language? Are they happy? Do they look stressed out and overworked?
- What type of work environment is it? Fast paced or slow and even paced? Organized or disorganized? What is the dress code? Is it a cubicle or open spaced environment? Colorful or boring?
- How did you feel when you were there? How do these things fit into your values and priorities? Is it a place you would be comfortable working in every day? What you are observing can help you learn more about the company that you can’t learn on a website.
Tip #2 – I recently found this method that people can use when they are interviewing. It is called the STAR method and each letter stands for a different thing you need to do when sharing information in an interview. Here are the details:
S – Share the situation, scene and background
T – Tasks or target that was to be attained; outline the specifics of who, what, when it happened
A – Action that was taken, what was done, what skills did you use
R – Results – what outcomes did you achieve
The STAR method can help you come across with the right level of detail and sharing the information in an easy way that is easy for you to remember if you are nervous. Make notes of any additional questions you were asked. These can be additional details that you can proactively address in future interviews.
Interviewing can be overwhelming for some people. Planning and preparing yourself will make all the difference. Be intentional and pay attention to all the details that you observed, heard and felt. Take down notes as soon as you leave to capture all of the information so you don’t forget. These are all things that you can evaluate when you are making the decision if the job is the right one for you.