Interviews make even the most qualified candidates anxious. You want to impress the hiring team with your experience and skills, but it's easy to psych yourself out. Rather than worry, approach your next interview as a strategic process you can master.
Sameer** landed an interview for his dream job. While qualified, he felt intimidated about standing out from other applicants. He wished he had a plan to navigate each phase with confidence.
According to our chief coach urvi, you can ace every stage of an interview by following this complete guide:
How to Start an Interview:
Do research beforehand to understand the interviewer's role and what they are looking for in a candidate
Clearly articulate your biggest strenghts and themes * right up front
Ask the interviewer about their specific role in the hiring process and what they are hoping to learn about you
What to Do During the Interview:
Use the CAR format* to succinctly convey your relevant experiences as stories
Make sure your stories ladder up to highlight your top 3 strengths and themes
Repeat key stories across different interviews to reinforce strengths
Understand that it is a two-way conversation; ask questions to learn about them too
How to End the Interview:
Summarize how your strengths align with what they are looking for
Express interest and reiterate why you would be a great fit
Share 1-2 specific, thoughtful questions you have for the interviewer
Ask for time to share additional questions over email if needed
Thank them* for their time and the engaging conversation
With this comprehensive approach, you can tackle every interview with confidence, from preparation to follow up. Sameer focused on relevant strengths rather than trying to impress. By following the guide, he had productive, engaging interviews that left memorable impressions.
What’s been your biggest challenge with interviews?
How have you overcome it?
Please share your top tips below!
*Links with a star are only accessible if you have signed up for the free Peppercorn.ai Discovery Platform.
** Names of candidates have been anonymized
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