Do this one thing to ace a job interview
If you want the job, you’ve got to demonstrate your passion and intelligence in an interview.
But it’s not just about showcasing your enthusiasm, or writing a compelling script to explain your accomplishments. Acing this task also requires careful research about the company and open position. Hiring managers love hearing about how much you’ve looked into the company and why you think you’d be a great fit for this specific role.
“In my experience, very few candidates do any company research before interviewing,” says Donna Svei, a résumé writer for executives and a Fast Company contributor. “[It’s a way to] stand out from other candidates.”
Here’s how to make it clear that you’ve done your prep work during your next big interview.
Emphasize values: The best way to show you feel a connection to a company is by citing the firm’s values. Perhaps a company emphasizes values like “diversity of thought” and “collaboration” that resonate with you on a personal or professional level.
In that case, you can make sure to highlight how you collaborated or brought new perspectives into your previous positions.
Toni Frana, a career services manager at FlexJobs, says the most important thing to get across is that you lived that specific value authentically. “If one of the company’s core values is ‘integrity,’ mention how the value holds true for you, or give an example of a work experience when you leaned into the value,” she says.
Make connections: The most effective way to make it clear you’ve done research is to provide both specific numbers and make a connection back to your professional ambitions. This shows that you’ve not only done the research, but you’ve found something that resonates with your idea of an ideal company.
From there, show how this company aligns with your experience from a previous role and your larger goals, Frana says. “Try saying, ‘This role excites me because I’d be able to bring my skill set and strengths to a high-performing team that continues to innovate and grow.’ ”
Ask questions that include smart details:
Hiring managers have heard all those same boring “wrap-up” questions in the past. To truly surprise them — and incorporate some of the effort you put in before an interview — go for a few well-contextualized questions.
Says Frana, “If you have a question about the culture, for example, try asking something like, ‘I noticed on the company website you really value company culture, so can you tell me more about how this is practiced day-to-day?’ ”
Moreover, connect it to a positive achievement, thereby doing double duty with your time of asking a question and bring up a company success. Svei recommends trying a format that highlights an achievement in available talent data, such as from insights from LinkedIn or a related venue.