Read time: 6 minutes

(This is a special series of my newsletter – the eleventh in a series of posts sharing insights, tips, and actions that you can implement when you are searching for a job either to leave your current one, or due to a recent layoff. The principles in the following series can be largely applied to both situations and adapted to your specific scenario. Best of luck in your journey!)

This past week I traveled to Tanzania to see a friend for the first time in 5 years.

The sun was high beaming down…

…but before we knew it there were stars and darkness overhead.

Where did the time go?

Hours had passed in what felt like a blink of an eye.

It’s easy.

Unrehearsed.

Natural.

But there’s so much more to it.

It was easy because I was relaxed.

It felt unrehearsed because there was no need to perform.

It was natural because I was sharing about what I knew best – myself.

An interview is exactly the same.

Remember every friend initially starts as a stranger.

An interview is just a professional hangout.

And if you followed last week’s strategies…

…at least one person you’re going to meet isn’t a stranger.

You’re going know them.

How to Prepare and Ace an Interview in 4 Easy Steps

My commute used to take 2 hours to work.

My alarm would go off at 6 AM and I would sluggishly walk around the house to get ready.

Brush my teeth.

Change my clothes.

Jump in the car…

…and drive.

It was a routine that after a while took no thought at all.

I was on autopilot.

But when I needed to think of the specifics of where did I make a turn and after which light…

…I had to think about it.

And it actually took some time to recount my steps to make sure I can provide those directions in the right order.

That is what an interviewer is looking for.

Just like we can end up in autopilot with our morning routine…

…we often do the same with our jobs.

We go about our days doing one task after another without thinking of the specifics.

Or at least without the specifics needed in case we need to clearly articulate it.

The first time we rethink those steps shouldn’t be in an interview.

“So tell me about a time…”

We know it’s coming…

…so we should already know what we are going to say.

You can explain it in a step of boring steps like a cookbook recipe…

…or you can tell a story that captures your interviewer’s attention.

They both answer the question – but one will stand out more than the other.

You want to stand out.

I’ve found that the ability to share the experience with the interviewer is far more important than sharing the “perfect” story.

You’re just sharing a story with a friend, professionally. 😉

2. Understand the Company

Not all companies are the same.

Yes Nick, thanks for pointing out the obvious.

Job Search Interview Meme — Though true, it’s helpful to find a connection to the company.

What I mean is that the underlying culture and intentions of the companies aren’t the same.Though true, it’s helpful to find a connection to the company.

When I was working with small, venture-backed startups…

…they are looking for people that are passionate behind the company’s vision.

Caring for the company was a fundamental requirement.

This was a slightly different experience in larger companies I’ve worked for…

…where they were looking for an interest in the specific projects I would be involved with.

Regardless of the size of the company, researching the company was important to know.

How was the company founded?
What does the company sell or make?
How is the company ran?
Why does this company matter?

There are an endless number of companies – so finding a connection to it is important for when this question is asked.

3. Why this role?

Job titles are made up.

They can change based on the company.

They can change based on the industry.

They can change because an executive wanted to be different.

Every job that I’ve had has had a different title.

From being a consultant to a program manager, what was important was the function of what I was doing.

During my interviews I focus on three reasons why I would want that specific job.

Interests.

How does this role align with my overall goals?

My current role is with a company is involved with e-commerce.

After starting two past e-commerce companies, I was genuinely interested in that industry.

Learnings.

What am I excited to learn about in this role?

The last thing I need to be is bored in my role.

That would make me dread it.

But what does excite me is learning about new things.

Plus, having a clear idea of what you learn can give you a strong why you want to be with that company.

Contributions.

We all come from a diverse set of experiences.

Each experience makes us uniquely qualified for each role.

This is similar to the prior point about knowing your experiences…

…but bundling that up specifically for the role is equally valuable.

One of the previous startups I joined had a mission to increase the educational resources available for seniors when they are selecting Medicare.

A large portion of seniors are taken advantage by scammy agents because they didn’t know any better.

In that interview, I was able to express why that mission was important for me…

…and explain how my past experiences could help them succeed in that mission (my contribution).

4. Know your interviewers

How are you going to break the ice with someone that you’re meeting for the first time?

The interviewer is going to have your resume…

…and maybe already looked at your LinkedIn.

So they will know a thing or two about you.

To help the conversation flow better…

…you should do the same.

When a recruiter reaches out – you’ll have their name.

Find them on LinkedIn or other social platforms.

You might be able to see a common interest that you can bring up during the conversation.

Having a common interest early in a conversation is key to building any relationship.

But what about the other interviewers?

Most of the time the recruiter will give you their names…

…and sometimes even information on each person.

If they don’t – don’t be afraid to ask.

You’ll be surprised how open people are to connect.

Here are some things that I typically look for that may be in common:

Education (i.e. alumnus from same school)
Past employers or industries (i.e. someone that was also a consultant but at a different company)
Activities (i.e. hobbies, extracurricular activities)
Sports (i.e. local team, University team, recreational player)

Prior to almost every interview…

…I have always been able to find something in common with the interviewer.

💡 Action Steps

📔 Create your own stories using the STAR Method (45 minutes). I would recommend checking out How to Answer Interview Questions – Create Amazing Stories where we discuss what is the STAR Method and review the free template to help get you started.

🏢 Reflect on the company (5 mins). Journal the answer to this question: Why this company? Research:

How was the company founded?
What does the company sell or make?
How is the company ran?
Why does this company matter?

📝 Reflect on the role (10 mins). Journal the answer to this question: Why do you want this role?

Interests. What about the company aligns with things that you are already interested in or spending time on?
Learnings. What do you hope to learn and develop from this role?
Contributions. Are there any past experiences and lessons from your past roles to help in this one?

🧑‍🏫 Learn about each interviewer (10 mins per interviewer). Research each person you are going to meet and learn about them. This can help connect with them initially when you meet, or even help you identify which past experiences you should talk about in the interview.

Look up the person on LinkedIn and other social media platforms
Identify hobbies, interests, and other things about the person you can discuss during your interview:
- Education (i.e. alumnus from same school)
- Past employers or industries (i.e. someone that was also a consultant but at a different company)
- Activities (i.e. hobbies, extracurricular activities)
- Sports (i.e. local team, University team, recreational player)

💥 Bonus

Journal Post-interview! At the end of each interview spend 2-3 minutes and write down everything that you learned from the conversation about the company, role, and interviewer.

This will be super helpful not only in your future interviews, but also when you are deciding between multiple offers!

📚 Other Notable Resources

Last Week’s Post: Fastest Ways to Get Your Job Application Noticed
Read the Full Guide: The ultimate 5-step guide how to get job interviews and job offers after being laid off
Free Resource: Teal’s Job Application Tracker(great for interview notes as well)

Learn the tactics we should have learned in school without the trail-and-error.

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