First of all, spend a few hours learning everything you can about the company, from as many sources as possible. Talk to friends and contacts, read current press releases, and yes, spend time on Google. Candidates often only look at the information a company is submitting through the website and social media, but they don’t delve into what others are saying. By doing so, you will gain a broader view of the company (along with any negative impressions) .

• Get an idea of ​​”who” the company is and how to embody a similar personality during your interview. Start by reading the company’s blog and Facebook page – the tone of the company’s content on these sites will speak volumes. Or, try reading individual employee blogs to find out what kind of people work (and stand out) there.

• Twitter can also be an excellent resource because you can see what the company and its employees are talking about. Are they joking sarcastically with each other? Feel free to make some jokes while you meet up with people. Are you tweeting a storm over an event or product launch? Use it as a conversation starter.

• Regardless of the role you’re interviewing for (engineering, sales, marketing), you should always use the product before your first interview (and ideally sometimes). If you’re hired, your goal will be to create value for the people who use that product, and being a user yourself is the first step.

• Take a look at Glassdoor to see company reviews of current and past employees, but take them as a guide, not a fact. Here is a guide to interpreting anonymous reviews correctly.

• Before the interview, get a list of the people you will meet with from the company. Then learn more about them, including what kinds of behavior might intrigue or shut them down. Finally, prepare some questions that are specific to each interviewer: ask for details about your focus on the company, discuss current events in your specialty, or raise a common interest that you know he or she has outside of the office.

• Different companies use different types of interviews, so ask yourself what you will face. For example, some companies will ask case or puzzle questions, while others will give a standard set of typical interview and leadership questions. Asking the recruiter or Human Resources contact about the interview format in advance is a completely fair game. And once you know, spending time getting familiar with this style can make a big difference.

• Even if you are a well-oiled interview machine, it is essential to spend time carefully thinking about which interview skills, accomplishments, and responses will resonate most with your interviewers. Your management skills? Your creativity? The examples you share will probably be slightly different in all interviews.

• Have a “tell me about yourself” answer ready to start. Interviewers always ask it and you want to make sure you get this first part of the interview done.

• Do not get carried away by the classic “What is your greatest weakness?” A foolproof method: think of something you struggle with but are working to improve. For example, you may never have been strong in public speaking, but in recent years, you’ve taken leadership roles and volunteered to host meetings to help you feel more comfortable addressing a crowd.

• You can easily find lists of common interview questions, but don’t prepare by writing your full answer; instead, write down some notes or bullets and keep them handy for the interview. He will make sure to cover the bases, without reading a script.

• Don’t forget the numbers! Finding some numbers, percentages, increases, or fees that you can use when talking about your responsibilities and accomplishments really sweetens the deal and helps you tell a hiring manager why it’s so amazing. (Here’s how to include them, even if you don’t work with numbers.)

• You may be asked why you are interested in this particular role and company. (And if you can’t answer this question, you shouldn’t be in the interview!) So, to make sure you can, consider why you’re interested in the feature and identify a couple of key factors that make it ideal for you ( for example, I love customer service because I love constant human interaction and the satisfaction that comes from helping someone solve a problem “).

• Don’t just think about how you will answer certain questions; Practice looking in the mirror and answering them out loud. This preparation work will help you clarify your questions.

• What are your salary claims?

Before you risk a number, do your research! Talk about the highest figure obtained according to your experience, clarify that it is negotiable and talk about other benefits of your interest such as benefits, growth, bonuses, etc.

They have the objective of going beyond your professional speech and evaluating your personality.

• What is your greatest weakness or defect?

Beyond judging you, the interviewer seeks to know your degree of honesty and self-awareness. Talk about a weak point that you are working to improve.

• How would you describe your ideal job?

The interviewer will want to find out if the company, the position and you make a ‘match’. Instead of answering ‘rock star’, focus on your true long-term goals.

• If you won the lottery today, would you come to work tomorrow? Does money only move you? How much do you respect your commitments?

That lottery could be the proposal of another company, and the interviewer will want to assess your loyalty.

• How do you see yourself in 5, 10 years? Does the position match your expectations for the future?

Be honest. It is also valid to say that you are not sure or sure yet, but that this position will be decisive for your career.

• What has been the biggest mistake in your life? You learned? Do you learn from your mistakes? Did your experiences help you mature?

Talk about a failure that you have turned into success.

The challengers

They seek to reveal how you face different situations or obstacles.

• Tell me about any challenge or conflict you have faced at work and how you resolved it. Are you ready to solve problems?

It’s the real question here and the recruiter wants to know if you are a professional and manage to handle a difficult situation.

• Mention a specific situation in your working life in which you have demonstrated your leadership

The recruiter will want examples that demonstrate that you have key competencies that you have mentioned in your CV or that are relevant to the vacancy such as integrity, creativity, proactivity, problem solving, etc.

• What is the greatest risk you have taken?

For key positions, decision making is a highly relevant competence. The interviewer will want to know if you are able to take risks and look for new solutions or do you prefer the safe path.

• Why should we hire you?

The interviewer is challenging you to sell yourself. Talk about why you can get the job done, achieve goals, and adapt to the business.

• Do you have any questions?

99% of recruiters will ask you “Do you have any questions?” Saying it is not a mistake. Asking questions shows your interest in the position and can also give you valuable information about the company.

Thank You for reading!

– Frances Rivero