How To Win (More) Interviews

We know it feels weird to go into a conversation with a strategy, and we’re not saying that if you say the “wrong” things you’ll have to lay in bed at night thinking about it. However, interviewing is tricky and can feel daunting the more you do it. So, if you’re getting a lot of first interviews but haven’t received a lot of follow-ups, we’re here to help. The following tips are here to ground you for your next interview and will (hopefully) lead to a fit that feels right for all involved.

5 Quick tips for winning interviews and landing jobs

  1. Thoroughly study the job description.
  2. Form your own interview questions and write them down.
  3. Address all your needs (lifestyle, priorities, goals, health).
  4. Always, thank the interviewer for their time.
  5. Document your experience after the interview.

Ways to avoid common interviewing mistakes

Take your time and research: 47% of hiring managers say they would reject a candidate who had little knowledge about where they’re applying. Do your homework on the company, its mission, and its work culture. Review the employer’s website, especially the ‘About Us section.’ Look at the company’s social media presence, too. This will give insight into how the company wants the public to perceive it. When you demonstrate your knowledge about the organization during an interview, it shows genuine interest in what they have to offer outside of a salary, which is what interviewers want to see.

Don’t criticize your old job: Avoid being critical. Frame your responses about previous employers or roles in a way that emphasizes wanting a new challenge or why you wish to be part of a bigger or smaller company; these are perfectly understandable and suitable reasons.

Ask your own questions: At the end of the interview, the hiring manager will always ask if you have any questions. Surprisingly, the most common answer to this question is no. This is a missed opportunity to find out more about the company, highlight your interest in the position, and reinforce your suitability as a candidate. Ask questions related to the job, leadership within the company, and the industry. Some examples include:  “What is your favorite part about working here?” and “What does the typical day-to-day look like for someone in this role?”

Stay engaged: Have you ever been talking to someone and you can tell that they’re just waiting for their turn to talk? Try not to let your mind race ahead to your answer while the interviewer is talking. If you feel like your attention is slipping, try to keep eye contact and make an active effort to listen to the full question before responding.

Not actively listening could lead to you misunderstanding the question and giving a poor (or more likely redundant) answer. This may lead your potential employer will question your ability to remain focused during a day on the job.

Try to stay calm. Remember that your body language can say as much about you as your answers to the questions. Breathe Preparation will allow you to exude confidence. If you need to take a moment to think about your answer, that’s totally fine, just say so. It’s better than trying to find your footing through multiple “ums” or “uhs.”

Be confident, not arrogant: It’s important to be confident and to give the interviewer proof of your achievements and abilities, but don’t go into it like you already know all the answers. Express your value rather than walking into the interview as if you’ve already got the job and they’re lucky to have you.

Benefits of working with Concentric

These might seem like common sense suggestions, but the hiring process is nerve-racking and, at times, a bit mentally exhausting. But it doesn’t have to be. We want to help job seekers confidentially take their next steps into the roles they’ve been dreaming of. Concentric believes that hiring isn’t just business— it’s building relationships that work between job seekers and companies.

Our recruiters start with an in-person meeting to get to know candidates personally, paying particular attention to the obstacles they’re facing in their current employment and discussing short- and long-term goals and ambitions. They’re with job seekers at every stage, at no cost to the candidate.

Want to learn more about how partnering with Concentric can take your career or company to the next level? Contact us today!

Looking for help landing a job outside of tech?

Connect with our sister company Clarity. Clarity Search teams up with business owners and managers nationwide to create connections between top-tier accounting, Finance, and marketing professionals.  

18 Questions Job Seekers Can Ask an Interviewer

18 Questions Job Seekers Can Ask an Interviewer

Although it might not always feel like it, an interview is a two-sided evaluation. Interviewing, especially in multiple rounds, allows job seekers to determine how the company can fulfill their professional goals. Asking questions can also potentially underscore your interest in a position.  So, when asked if you have any questions for them at the end of an interview, it’s a mistake to say no. According to online job search expert Susan P. Joyce, “Typically, a job seeker with no questions is assumed to be either not interested or not very bright.”  Snag that opportunity to do some value sleuthing of your own. Below, we’ve gathered eighteen impact-driven and cultural questions to utilize when interviewing.

Basic questions get basic answers

Taking the time to ask thoughtful questions will always pay off; it proves you’ve not only done your research but were fully engaged while being interviewed thus far. It can be just as frustrating for hiring managers to be asked generic questions that they answered minutes before.

Frame questions in a way that demands detail. For example, instead of asking, “what type of person succeeds in this role?” Ask, “What three adjectives immediately come to mind when describing the candidate needed in this role?” This forces the hiring manager to articulate the soft skills they’re looking for and provides opportunities for a follow-up, like asking them to validate why they chose each one by giving an example of how that adjective would support their success in the role. Limiting must-haves can narrow down the qualifications and skillsets the company needs most.

The power of impact-driven questions

Impact-driven questions communicate the root problems that need to be solved strategically. Therefore, we suggest the following examples.

  1. What are some of the first projects the person in this role will work on? / a typical day for the person in this role
  2. What three soft and hard skills do you think are most important to succeed in this role? At this company?
  3. What’s the most important thing I can accomplish in the first 60 days?
  4. How does this position contribute to the company’s short-term and long-term goals?
  5. What are the biggest goals for the company?
  6. How does this team/role contribute to the company goals?
  7. Now that we’ve discussed my qualifications and the job, do you have any concerns about my success in this position?

Keep culture in mind

For most job seekers, the position isn’t enough to keep them locked in. Culture matters. The following (if applicable) are beneficial questions to have on hand that can provide some insight into the day-to-day of the company.

  1. How does this position contribute to the company’s short-term and long-term goals?
  2. How does this company define and measure success?
  3. Have employees previously in this role advanced in the company? What kinds of roles do they have now?
  4. What is your favorite part about your job? This company?
  5. What professional development opportunities are available to employees?
  6. Have employees previously in this role advanced in the company? What kinds of roles do they have now?
  7. What is something unique that you like about the company?

Practical follow-up questions to ask

Nothing is worse than not knowing where you stand. Don’t be afraid to ask to be informed or kept on the same page.

  1. Is there any other information I can give you that would be helpful in making a decision?
  2. What is the next step in the hiring process?
  3. By when do you hope to make someone an offer?
  4. Can I answer any final questions for you?

How Concentric can help

Are we saying to show up to an interview prepared to ask all eighteen questions? Not necessarily, but having a handful ready certainly doesn’t hurt.

Concentric takes its role as a hiring partner very seriously because we know the hiring process can be stressful on both sides. To help, we’ll do everything from interview prep and providing advice like that in this article to practice sessions. We want the entire job search to present meaningful personal experiences.

Are you looking for a position outside of tech?

You can connect with our sister company, Clarity. Clarity Search teams up with business owners and managers nationwide to create connections between top-tier accounting, Finance, and marketing professionals.

Want to learn more about how Concentric and Clarity can find your perfect professional fit? Contact us today.