Step 1: Research the company.
Check out the website, read news articles, and watch YouTube videos of their product.
This will help you better understand the company and make your job interview easier.
You can also check out the 10-Qs and 10-Ks if the company is publicly traded. These forms are required by law and protect investors. In it, you'll find things like the company's goals, threats to the business, and its financial health.
Step 2: Be sure to read the job description.
Keep in mind that the hiring manager is trying to fill a specific position. Therefore, they'll be looking for evidence that you can step THIS this role and ramp up quickly. This step is important because it tells you what to focus on during your job interview.
Don't forget this tip if you have a long career history with achievements that don't necessarily relate to the role. The hiring manager might think you're underqualified or overqualified if you give them too much information.
The best job interviews are tailored the role.
Step 3. Prepare for these Common Questions
What's your reason for leaving your current position?
The hiring manager wants to understand your reason to see if this opening is a better fit for you. Be sure to keep things positive, or at least put a positive spin on it.
Why are you interested in this opening?
Companies want people who are genuinely excited about the job. It means they will be happy, long-term employees.
Think of a few reasons why you'd be interested in this position. You can also express interest in the company, product, or stage of growth.
Just remember that recruiters at top companies are trained to spot people who will take any job to break in, then switch later. So, help put those fears to rest by showing the role some love.
What are your career goals? What's your 5-year plan?
A company spends a lot of time, money, and effort onboarding someone, so it wants to avoid hiring someone who will leave after a short time. It’s best to connect the position or industry with your long-term goals. (e.g. don't say you want to pivot into Product Management, when interviewing for a Product Marketing role)
Step 4. Prepare YOUR Questions
The quality of your questions can make or break an interview. By strategically asking questions throughout the meeting, you can also facilitate an engaging conversation and learn more about the role.
It’s recommended that most of your questions be specific to the POSITION. Again, this is the role the interviewer wants to fill. The more you talk about it, and ask direct questions, the more it allows you to demonstrate your expertise and interest.
Here are strong general questions:
• Who does this position report to? What’s the team structure?
• What systems, software or tools are you currently using?
• Does the team or department have any major projects planned?
• Why is this position open?
• What is your onboarding process like?
You can also demonstrate your expertise by asking specific questions:
• Do you have a UX research time? (UX design)
• Is this for a software tool, website, iOS/Android app, or desktop client? (UX design)
• What is your current vision for the product line? (product management)
• What do you think makes this product successful? (product management)
• What internal departments will this collaborate with? (product management)
• How often do you launch new products? (product marketing)
• How do you measure the success of product marketing? (product marketing)
It's best to limit generic questions. They don't require much thought and leave no lasting impression. Like the above questions, include a few more complex ones.
Here are some examples of generic questions:
• Why do you like working here?
• How long have you been working here?
• What’s the company culture? (This is important, but subjective - don't ignore the high quality questions!)
• How much does this position pay? (you should already have an idea)
• What does the company do?
Things To Keep in Mind:
When giving instances from your experience, be detailed. It’s important to get into the specifics of how you accomplished something. Our most common feedback about unsuccessful candidates is that they talked too much about their past work experience.
Keep things positive and show a genuine interest in the role and/or person.
Send a thank you email after the interview. Keep it short and sweet but be careful with your grammar and spelling. This step has become uncommon with remote interviews but hiring managers value it and comment on it often. This shows a genuine interest in the job and increases your chances of getting it.
