In the world of all things job related, it is important to remember who we are and what we can bring to the table, not allowing yourself to get deflated or frustrated if someone does not like what we are all about. In this day and age where budgets are tight and the right hires need to be made, clients cannot afford to make a mistake. Going into any interview, one must take the time to prepare and come to the table with your A game every time (that goes for us working on the recruiting side sourcing candidates as well). Here is where my 2 cents comes in.
Whether you are working with a recruiter or taking the journey on your own it is always best to make sure you are setting yourself up for success going into the process. In my professional experience I can tell you, just winging an interview is not the way to go. Take the time to research the brand, who you are meeting with, know the history and DNA. A hiring manager first off is looking for that passion and connection you have, do they make sense on our team? A culture fit can be the deciding factor when it comes to making a final decision between candidates. Do not hold back on that passion and your personality while keeping it professional. Make sure to listen to your interviewer during the meeting to ensure you fully understand what they are looking for. The best way you can bring relevance and credibility to a conversation is by identifying what the needs are for the opportunity at hand, tying in your background and experience to connect the dots in showing them how you make sense for the position and can positively impact their business.
Let’s face it, there is no magic formula to this process. Every client, executive, is looking for someone/something different and it can be challenging at times to hit all of the points. However making sure you are going into any interview fully prepared, dressed right, confidence up (but not over-confident) with your resume in hand, is a sure fire way to get off on the right foot. Make sure to always send your Thank You note and leave that lasting impression, even on the client side of the business it is important for us to do the same with candidates. At the end of the day remember, you are not going to be everyone’s jar of Nutella.
Meghan Houle