No matter what role or industry you are in, all hiring managers have 3 minimum expectations. If you are well-prepared, these are very easy. However, many candidates fall short in these critical areas.
- You know what is on your resume and are able to talk about it
If you put something on your resume, be ready to answer questions about it and expand the story. Even if something was 20 years ago, if you still felt it was worth having on your resume, then managers feel you should know enough about it.
To prevent falling short here, take the time to tailor your resume before an interview. Read your resume several times before interviewing and print out a copy to have in front of yourself while you are talking to the manager. Do not include technology that your team used but you did not. They expect your resume is an accurate representation of your skills and work history.
- You have done your research on their company
They will ask want to see if you are really interested in their company. Many will ask, “What do you know about us?” They expect you will be able to do more than just regurgitate the “about us” section off their website.
Spend plenty of time looking at each section of the website so you can talk about what the company does, what the culture is, and what makes the company exciting. If you aren’t excited about this answer, then the company may not be the right fit for you. You can also ask a recruiter or a friend that works at the company for help in crafting this answer. For more ideas on where to research check out our Interview Preparation Playbook.
- You will ask questions
If I’m not asked questions when interviewing candidates for my team, the interview does not last long. I want to see if you can think about the next level of information beyond our website. Are you truly curious and excited to work here?
Especially when candidates meet multiple people, they often think, “Well I asked the first person questions, so I do not have any more.” This is the wrong approach. You can ask the same questions again to gain perspective from another point of view. It is also good to prepare questions for each person centered on their role and responsibilities in the organization.
If you can prepare to succeed on these 3 expectations, it will make the rest of the interview way more successful. If you need help preparing for an interview, reach out to me on LinkedIn or Twitter.
