Career

3 less common job interview hacks

Beyond the standard “Dress nice, have a firm handshake, and make good eye contact”, there are actually some much more important yet lesser known interview hacks to almost certainly land you the job. Don’t be selective here! Make sure you do ALL 3 of these at your next interview and thank me later.

#1 – Do a TON of research on the company

Researching the company and the specific role you are applying for in depth before a job interview is a good idea for several reasons:

  • It demonstrates your interest in the company and the role. By researching the company and the role in depth, you show the interviewer that you are genuinely interested in the company and the role, and that you are not just applying for any job.
  • It helps you tailor your interview question responses. By researching the company and the role, you can tailor your responses to the specific requirements of the role and the company’s values, which will make you a more attractive candidate.
  • It helps you ask informed questions. By researching the company and the role, you will be able to ask informed and intelligent questions during the interview, which will show that you are engaged and interested in the company and the role.
  • It helps you understand the company’s goals and challenges. By researching the company, you will be able to understand its goals and challenges, which will help you understand how your role fits into the bigger picture and how you can contribute to the company’s success.
  • It helps you understand a company’s culture. By researching the company, you can understand the company’s culture, mission, vision and values. This will help you to decide if the company aligns with your personal values, and if you would enjoy working there.

#2 – Prepare to talk A LOT about things you’ve accomplished

Preparing to talk about a lot of things you’ve accomplished before a job interview is a good idea for several reasons:

  • It helps you showcase your skills and experiences. By having specific examples of your accomplishments, you can demonstrate to the interviewer how your skills and experiences align with the requirements of the role. This will help you stand out as a candidate and make a positive impression on the interviewer.
  • It helps you answer behavioral interview questions. Behavioral interview questions often ask about specific examples of how you have handled certain situations in the past. By preparing examples of your accomplishments, you will be better equipped to answer these types of questions. You’ll be able to show how you have handled similar situations in the past.
  • It helps you highlight your achievements. By preparing examples of your accomplishments, you can highlight your achievements and show the interviewer how you have added value to your previous positions. This will help the interviewer see the impact you can have on their company.
  • It helps you show your potential. By highlighting your accomplishments, you can demonstrate your potential and how you can bring value to the company in the future. This will help the interviewer see how you can contribute to the company’s success in the role you are applying for.
  • It helps you stand out. With a lot of examples of your accomplishments, it will be easy for you to stand out among other candidates, especially if these examples are relevant to the position you are applying for.

#3 – Ask the BEST questions they’ve ever been asked

I consider this to be one of the BEST interview hacks of all. Asking the job interviewer really good questions at the end of the interview is important for several reasons:

  • Just like doing a ton of research on the company, it shows that your interest in the role and the company goes beyond just “landing a job”.
  • It allows you to gain more information. By asking good questions, you can gain more information about the role, the company, and the expectations for the position. This will help you determine if the role and the company are the right fit for you, and vice versa.
  • It allows you to stand out: Asking good questions can help you stand out from other candidates. Great questions show that you have done your research, and have thought about the role and the company. They love this stuff!
  • It allows you to have a more meaningful conversation. By asking good questions, you will move away from the traditional interview format and have a more meaningful conversation with the interviewer. This will help you to build rapport with the interviewer and make a more positive impression.

Check out this list of the 3 BEST interview questions you can ask

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Career

Ask 1 (or all) of these questions to ACE a job interview

Acing a job interview is obviously more about asking the right interview questions at the end. To go deeper on job interviews, read my post “3 less common job interview hacks

#1 – “What are the biggest challenges facing the team/department/company, and how does this role contribute to addressing those challenges?”

This is an AWESOME interview question because it shows that you are interested in understanding the company’s current situation and how you can contribute to its success.

This question allows you to understand the company’s current priorities and goals. It will give you an idea of the main areas of focus for the company, which will help you understand how your role fits into the bigger picture and how you can contribute to the company’s success. It also gives you an opportunity to showcase your problem-solving skills and how you can bring value to the company by addressing these challenges.

Additionally, this question demonstrates your interest in the company’s well-being, and your willingness to contribute to its success. It also shows that you have a strategic mindset and that you can think about the company’s goals and objectives, and how your role fits into the bigger picture.

Overall, this question will help you gain a better understanding of the company’s current situation, its priorities and goals, and how your role fits into the bigger picture. It will also help you to understand how you can contribute to the company’s success, which will help you to achieve success in your role.

#2 – “What are the key performance indicators that I will be measured on?”

This interview question rocks because it shows that you are interested in understanding how your performance will be evaluated and what is expected of you in the role.

Knowing the KPIs will help you understand what specific goals you will be working toward and how your performance will be evaluated. This can help you align your efforts with the company’s expectations and focus on the areas that are most important to the company. It also gives you a clear understanding of what is expected of you in terms of results and how your performance will be evaluated, which will help you to better understand your role and its impact on the company.

Additionally, asking this question also demonstrates your attention to detail and your desire to be held accountable for your work. It also shows that you are interested in understanding how your work will contribute to the company’s goals and objectives, and that you want to be able to measure your own progress.

#3 – “How does the company support employee development and professional growth?”

This is an interview question you can’t skip because it shows that you are interested in not just getting the job, but also in your own personal and professional development. It also gives you insight into the company’s priorities and values.

If a company prioritizes employee development and professional growth, it is likely that they invest in their employees through training, mentoring, and providing opportunities for advancement. This can indicate that the company values its employees, and that they are committed to creating a positive work environment. Additionally, it also shows that you are interested in a long-term commitment with the company and in EXPANDING your contribution.

As the interviewer is asking this question, you’ll notice he is actually selling the company to you. See what I meant about flipping the script?

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