Recruitment Series, Part Two: How to Succeed in an Interview

Recruitment Series, Part Two: How to Succeed in an Interview 

So, you have made it past the search experience, and you now have some interviews in the books. Interviews can be nerve-wracking, so the key is to be prepared, confident, and yourself. Throughout the job search, the goal is to locate opportunities that match your career goals and are a good culture fit, that way you know that every interview is a potential job match. There often is a lot of conflicting advice out there, but it is important to remember a few things in order to succeed in an interview. 
Reflect on and reference the job posting throughout the interview. 

• The job posting lays out what the employer is looking for in a candidate. It is important that you look through and reflect which parameters you resonate with. Which skills that the employer is looking for, do you possess? You will want to prepare by cross-referencing the job posting with your own resume and clearly communicate this information with the interviewer. This will reflect how much you prepared, but also will show the interviewer that you are a good fit for the role.  

Do ample research on the company and the market to ensure you know what type of environment you are looking for.  

• This is an important aspect, as often, interviewers may start the interview with “What do you know about our company?” This gives you a chance to prove that you are prepared and did research into the organization. For example, if you are interviewing at a top engineering design firm, sharing a project they worked on would be a fantastic way to show that the company is one you respect and have interest in their work. Similarly, mentioning an event or a community initiative the company participated in will show the interviewer you are interested in their external activities. 

Be present and in a comfortable space. 

• In an era of remote interview processes, it is key that you can find a comfortable place to take an interview. It is important that you don’t feel distracted and feel truly present with the interview at hand. This will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the process and communicate well. A tip often given before interviews is to prepare questions for the interviewer. Having educated and meaningful questions prepared can show the interviewer your interest in the position. However, it’s important to be aware that you are not asking questions, just to ask them. Perhaps one of the questions you had prepared was already covered earlier in the interview. There is no reason to be repetitive and ask the question again. This might flag the interviewer that you were not fully paying attention throughout the interview. Often, nerves and immaturity to the work force can make an interviewee appear as though they are following a script. Genuineness and thoughtful questions and answers will be noticed and appreciated by interviewers.    

• Taking notes is another way you can stay present through the interview. We all learn differently, and for some, writing questions down can ensure that you fully understand the question at hand and can deliver a complete answer. Recognizing your learning styles is a great tool for your career. 

Don’t just rattle off information on your resume – the interviewer wants to know what is NOT on your resume.  

• Your resume is an incredible tool and is very important in the interview process. However, the interviewer will most likely have a copy of your resume in front of them, so it is important to spell out what is between the lines. Through examples and anecdotes, you can paint a picture of your skills and past experiences for the interviewer. Giving clear and tangible evidence behind the skills and competencies you can bring to the role will go a long way through this process. For example, if you are interviewing for a civil engineering job and you have noted CAD, MicroStation, or Revit as a tool you use, consider elaborating on how you use it and how often. Supplying examples on how you perform with this tool will display your confidence level and give the interviewer that same confidence that you could fit in at their engineering company. Consider elaborating on deliverables you met or exceeded during the engineering project phase; how you did this and what the feedback was. Now is not a time to be modest, but rather reflect on what aspects make you proud as an engineer.  

• Another area of importance is instead of saying “I don’t have experience on that”, consider reframing your answer to “I do not have that experience but if I was given the opportunity this is what I would do”. This shows the interviewer that you are proactive and a forward thinker. 

Be yourself – and sell it! 

• At the end of the day, you are trying to sell yourself through this interview. Being able to effectively communicate the value you can bring to the team will make you stand apart. Have specificities to share on past projects and how this positively impacted the organization. For example, if you are interviewing for a technical position, such as a civil engineering role, discussing your responsibilities on a successful project you worked on could give the interviewer more insight into what you could do for their organization.  

• While selling yourself, be yourself! The interviewer is looking for candidates that will be able to succeed in the role, but also fit in with the culture of the company. Genuinely showing your personality through the process can help land you the correct role at a company that will suit you and your values.  

Following all these tips will be incredibly helpful when entering the interview process. But equally important throughout the entire process is knowing if a role is a good fit for you. The interviewer is looking for the best candidate for the job, and similarly you should be looking for the best fit in an employer. That is extremely important as you move into the final step of the process, which is accepting a role, acclimating into the company, and succeeding in your position.