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how do I wow people in the interview
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6 answers

Svenja Brandenburg
Director Talent Acquisition Executive Hiring
2
Answers
Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Svenja’s Answer
Get ready and stay positive! Dive into learning about the company, its finances, and strategy. Check out sites like Glassdoor and Indeed for insights, but remember to take them with a grain of salt. Prepare by reviewing the skills needed for the job and practice answering competency-based questions. You can find many examples online and think of some personal examples to share during the interview. With practice, you'll become more comfortable and skilled at these types of interviews, drawing on your past experiences to highlight your strengths.
Arrive on time, be polite and friendly. Make sure to listen as much as you talk, and don't hesitate to ask questions—interviews are a two-way conversation.
Trust in your abilities and express the unique value you can bring to the role and the company.
You've got this!
Arrive on time, be polite and friendly. Make sure to listen as much as you talk, and don't hesitate to ask questions—interviews are a two-way conversation.
Trust in your abilities and express the unique value you can bring to the role and the company.
You've got this!
Updated
Stacy’s Answer
Here are some recommendations from Verizon to help you shine!
1. Bring positive and professional energy.
2. Be prepared—research the job, industry, and company. Make sure your answers match the job descriptions, especially for scenario-based questions. Adding results and performance impacts will make you stand out!
3. Arrive early and maintain good eye contact throughout.
4. Dress appropriately for the occasion.
5. Practice with mock interviews to boost your confidence.
6. For phone interviews, be on camera and stand up to improve your tone.
7. Think of strong questions to ask, and steer clear of questions about pay, time off, or when you'll hear back.
8. Speak positively about your past roles and co-workers.
9. Send a letter of intent, resume, and any extras like a personal digital portfolio to stand out.
10. Follow up with a thank-you letter and highlight your impact.
11. Be your amazing self! :)
1. Bring positive and professional energy.
2. Be prepared—research the job, industry, and company. Make sure your answers match the job descriptions, especially for scenario-based questions. Adding results and performance impacts will make you stand out!
3. Arrive early and maintain good eye contact throughout.
4. Dress appropriately for the occasion.
5. Practice with mock interviews to boost your confidence.
6. For phone interviews, be on camera and stand up to improve your tone.
7. Think of strong questions to ask, and steer clear of questions about pay, time off, or when you'll hear back.
8. Speak positively about your past roles and co-workers.
9. Send a letter of intent, resume, and any extras like a personal digital portfolio to stand out.
10. Follow up with a thank-you letter and highlight your impact.
11. Be your amazing self! :)
Updated
Jerry’s Answer
Lauren,
Some good answers above for you to review. Here's my advice.
Overall Philosophy to Follow
It's not your point of view that matters during the interview. It's what can you do for them. All your communication, verbally and in writing, should be filtered through that lens.
Know the Job Spec
Be very fundamental as a safeguard. Review the job spec and imagine you’re being asked how you fit the top bullet points and requirements. Know in advance that the job spec likely is a Frankenstinian creation that HR and the hiring manager have cobbled together from the body parts of pre-existing job descriptions found across the Internet. Often it’s an idealized document such that you would need to descend from Mount Olympus to be hired! Yet, going in, it's all you have. See "After the Icebreaker. Question to ask Early" section below to move you beyond the job spec to the true needs of the hiring manager.
See way below for LinkedIn Search actions to take.
Chess Analogy
Look at your own candidacy and resume thru the lens of an objective third party and try to determine in advance where your interviewer, to whom you’re an unknown entity, would see your weak points. Be prepared to address them. Moreover, rather than having the weakness you've found about your candidacy sit there like the 500-pound gorilla in the room hoping that no one will notice it, raise the perceived issue yourself and you remove some of the anxiety about it.
"Jack, you may be wondering why someone like me, with 10 years of big company, hierarchical experience at Oracle, now wants to join a start-up with fewer than 25 people, let me tell you why."
Do this if YOU feel comfortable. Critics of this have asked me "Why would I want to bring up an area where I might be perceived as weak?" My response is that I would rather do so than have an interviewer say to me, "I don't see that you have any experience in Peoplesoft's AP/AR module," and put me on the defensive.
Headset for Telephone Interviews
For phone interviews, try and wear a headset. It frees up your hands, allowing you to type if need be. Most importantly, you can stand up, gesture, walk a bit, disperse some nervous tension and actually generate more enthusiasm than you would with a phone to your ear.
In-Person Interview Tips
• On an in-person interview, don’t wear any cologne, perfume, after shave. If you do, and someone finds that scent off putting, it won't go well for you.
• Dress a step above the corporate culture as you're not yet a part of it. Guys, especially, check your shoes; invest $2 in a heel guard if need be and make sure they're shined.
• Plan your intake of liquids and food so that you’re sharp when the interview occurs, not lethargic from digestion, nor frantic from low blood sugar, nor acutely aware of how your bladder is filling up thanks to that huge cup of coffee.
• Have a contact phone number with you, so that if you’re delayed in transit for any reason, you can reach out to the company.
• Scout out the route in advance so you are at ease while driving there on the day of the interview.
• Remember that the interview starts when you pull into the parking lot or lobby. You never know who might be observing you. Don't show up earlier than 10 minutes before the interview. Sometimes it throws them into a dither and they don't know what to do with you, especially smaller companies.
• Have several copies of your resume with you and something on which you can take notes.
Icebreaker Question
The interview is a dialog. It typically begins with an ice breaker question of “so tell us about yourself.” Have your succinct 60-90 second response prepared. Don't go back to when you were a fencing champion in college. Tailor the response to what's pertinent for the job for which you're interviewing. Because you’re answering this question in relation to the specific job for which you're interviewing, you often can end this icebreaker question with…."and it's for just this specific background and experience that I know I'd be successful here in the role of Job Title."
After the Icebreaker. Questions to Ask Early
As the job spec often times is an idealized document, I suggest you try to ask questions of the interviewer early in the interview.
“Interviewer, I’ve reviewed the job spec and I'm prepared to explain how I meet the requirements, but I know that the typical job spec only tells part of the story. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”
The interviewer may say: "Fire away." Or they may say, "Jack, I'm on a tight schedule, please save them for later." In the latter case, you have to go with the flow. However, if the door is opened, I suggest asking three of these seven…you can weave in the others later:
1. What does a person taking this job need to accomplish over the next six to 9 months in order to be considered a successful hire?
2. On what skills or experience will you not compromise…meaning that I must have them on day one of my employment?
3. What would you see as the top three challenges for someone taking on this role?
4. What skills or characteristics would make me a star performer in this position? In other words, it would be my ability to do what that would make me stand out compared to the average candidate?
5. By what quantifiable metrics will my performance be measured?
6. What’s the real pain point here? What’s not getting done that you need to get done?
7. Why is this position open?
8. If I were hired in this role, what could I do to help you be successful and reach your goals?
What you can gain from the answers to these questions is a roadmap to help you navigate the rest of the interview. It will keep you from veering off into areas that are of lesser, or no importance, to the hiring mgr. You’ll be able to spend time telling SMART stories about how you've accomplished those things, overcome similar challenges and how you possess the day-one skills. You’ll be sure to position yourself as possessing the attributes of someone who would be a top performer in the role.
Questions to Expect, Especially If You’re an Engineer
What are you looking for in your next:
Product?
Team? (size, culture etc.)
Technical challenge?
Have you had experience scaling applications?
Tell me about a cool project you worked on recently (very important).
I and the Data
Smart interviewers will reel you in when you are citing past accomplishments, so they know specifically what you contributed. It all comes down to what I call "I and the data." The interview is no place to accentuate what my group, or our team or the department accomplished. As difficult as it may be, it's time to focus on yourself. Moreover, when you cite accomplishments, try and quantify them by some measureable metric. For example, number of times, percentage, dollar value, etc. It makes them more concrete and, therefore, more powerful.
Often times you’ll talk in terms of a P-A-R story. Problem. Action. Resolution. This was the problem I faced, the action I took and how I resolved the issue.
A Question Taking Chutzpah to Ask and Moxie to Answer
"Interviewer, now that you’ve had a chance to talk with me, where do you see my strengths for this position, and where do you fear that I might be a little light?"
You ask this hoping the interviewer will have enough moxie to answer the question honestly, and especially to reveal where they feel you might be a little light - a nicer word than weak to describe you - so that you can counter that perception while the interview is still going on.
If this question is a bit daunting, you can ask it in a softer way…"Now that you’ve had a chance to talk with me, are there any reasons you would not want to move forward with my candidacy?"
Final Question and Follow-up Email
For your own peace of mind, ask: "I think it's pretty clear that I would love to work for you. So tell me, what are my next steps and who has the action item?
In truth, you have that action item; it's a follow up email to those with whom you interviewed, which is not wasteful fluff but speaks to the specific needs you learned the hiring manager has and details exactly how you can address them. If you cannot write such a meaty, content-driven email, then don't waste the hiring manager's time with something that can be immediately deleted because it has no value.
Specific Skill-Related Interview Questions
Check out the website below.
GET THE MOST OUT OF READY PREP INTERVIEW
Search for the position you are interviewing for. The questions are listed in the order of importance based on the skills and qualities needed to do the job. Print the interview questions that are most relevant or just print the top 10, 20, or 30 questions. Below are some other useful ways to use our site:
Not sure if they will ultimately want to charge you a fee
http://www.readyprepinterview.com/
LinkedIn Search Actions to Find Others Who Held or Hold the Same Position at the Company
Consider doing a search on LinkedIn to find people currently in the role for which you’re interviewing at the company. Nice to see how you match up against the incumbents.
You also can consider whether there's merit in reaching out to someone who previously held the role to get some inside information about the company, hiring manager and the position. I think there’s very little downside risk to doing so…would the former incumbent really call the company and say…"Alice Jones reached out to me." And if the former incumbent did, is that bad??? You were doing your due diligence. That being said, please use your own judgment. It's not as cut and dried as mathematics, people being people.
Some good answers above for you to review. Here's my advice.
Overall Philosophy to Follow
It's not your point of view that matters during the interview. It's what can you do for them. All your communication, verbally and in writing, should be filtered through that lens.
Know the Job Spec
Be very fundamental as a safeguard. Review the job spec and imagine you’re being asked how you fit the top bullet points and requirements. Know in advance that the job spec likely is a Frankenstinian creation that HR and the hiring manager have cobbled together from the body parts of pre-existing job descriptions found across the Internet. Often it’s an idealized document such that you would need to descend from Mount Olympus to be hired! Yet, going in, it's all you have. See "After the Icebreaker. Question to ask Early" section below to move you beyond the job spec to the true needs of the hiring manager.
See way below for LinkedIn Search actions to take.
Chess Analogy
Look at your own candidacy and resume thru the lens of an objective third party and try to determine in advance where your interviewer, to whom you’re an unknown entity, would see your weak points. Be prepared to address them. Moreover, rather than having the weakness you've found about your candidacy sit there like the 500-pound gorilla in the room hoping that no one will notice it, raise the perceived issue yourself and you remove some of the anxiety about it.
"Jack, you may be wondering why someone like me, with 10 years of big company, hierarchical experience at Oracle, now wants to join a start-up with fewer than 25 people, let me tell you why."
Do this if YOU feel comfortable. Critics of this have asked me "Why would I want to bring up an area where I might be perceived as weak?" My response is that I would rather do so than have an interviewer say to me, "I don't see that you have any experience in Peoplesoft's AP/AR module," and put me on the defensive.
Headset for Telephone Interviews
For phone interviews, try and wear a headset. It frees up your hands, allowing you to type if need be. Most importantly, you can stand up, gesture, walk a bit, disperse some nervous tension and actually generate more enthusiasm than you would with a phone to your ear.
In-Person Interview Tips
• On an in-person interview, don’t wear any cologne, perfume, after shave. If you do, and someone finds that scent off putting, it won't go well for you.
• Dress a step above the corporate culture as you're not yet a part of it. Guys, especially, check your shoes; invest $2 in a heel guard if need be and make sure they're shined.
• Plan your intake of liquids and food so that you’re sharp when the interview occurs, not lethargic from digestion, nor frantic from low blood sugar, nor acutely aware of how your bladder is filling up thanks to that huge cup of coffee.
• Have a contact phone number with you, so that if you’re delayed in transit for any reason, you can reach out to the company.
• Scout out the route in advance so you are at ease while driving there on the day of the interview.
• Remember that the interview starts when you pull into the parking lot or lobby. You never know who might be observing you. Don't show up earlier than 10 minutes before the interview. Sometimes it throws them into a dither and they don't know what to do with you, especially smaller companies.
• Have several copies of your resume with you and something on which you can take notes.
Icebreaker Question
The interview is a dialog. It typically begins with an ice breaker question of “so tell us about yourself.” Have your succinct 60-90 second response prepared. Don't go back to when you were a fencing champion in college. Tailor the response to what's pertinent for the job for which you're interviewing. Because you’re answering this question in relation to the specific job for which you're interviewing, you often can end this icebreaker question with…."and it's for just this specific background and experience that I know I'd be successful here in the role of Job Title."
After the Icebreaker. Questions to Ask Early
As the job spec often times is an idealized document, I suggest you try to ask questions of the interviewer early in the interview.
“Interviewer, I’ve reviewed the job spec and I'm prepared to explain how I meet the requirements, but I know that the typical job spec only tells part of the story. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”
The interviewer may say: "Fire away." Or they may say, "Jack, I'm on a tight schedule, please save them for later." In the latter case, you have to go with the flow. However, if the door is opened, I suggest asking three of these seven…you can weave in the others later:
1. What does a person taking this job need to accomplish over the next six to 9 months in order to be considered a successful hire?
2. On what skills or experience will you not compromise…meaning that I must have them on day one of my employment?
3. What would you see as the top three challenges for someone taking on this role?
4. What skills or characteristics would make me a star performer in this position? In other words, it would be my ability to do what that would make me stand out compared to the average candidate?
5. By what quantifiable metrics will my performance be measured?
6. What’s the real pain point here? What’s not getting done that you need to get done?
7. Why is this position open?
8. If I were hired in this role, what could I do to help you be successful and reach your goals?
What you can gain from the answers to these questions is a roadmap to help you navigate the rest of the interview. It will keep you from veering off into areas that are of lesser, or no importance, to the hiring mgr. You’ll be able to spend time telling SMART stories about how you've accomplished those things, overcome similar challenges and how you possess the day-one skills. You’ll be sure to position yourself as possessing the attributes of someone who would be a top performer in the role.
Questions to Expect, Especially If You’re an Engineer
What are you looking for in your next:
Product?
Team? (size, culture etc.)
Technical challenge?
Have you had experience scaling applications?
Tell me about a cool project you worked on recently (very important).
I and the Data
Smart interviewers will reel you in when you are citing past accomplishments, so they know specifically what you contributed. It all comes down to what I call "I and the data." The interview is no place to accentuate what my group, or our team or the department accomplished. As difficult as it may be, it's time to focus on yourself. Moreover, when you cite accomplishments, try and quantify them by some measureable metric. For example, number of times, percentage, dollar value, etc. It makes them more concrete and, therefore, more powerful.
Often times you’ll talk in terms of a P-A-R story. Problem. Action. Resolution. This was the problem I faced, the action I took and how I resolved the issue.
A Question Taking Chutzpah to Ask and Moxie to Answer
"Interviewer, now that you’ve had a chance to talk with me, where do you see my strengths for this position, and where do you fear that I might be a little light?"
You ask this hoping the interviewer will have enough moxie to answer the question honestly, and especially to reveal where they feel you might be a little light - a nicer word than weak to describe you - so that you can counter that perception while the interview is still going on.
If this question is a bit daunting, you can ask it in a softer way…"Now that you’ve had a chance to talk with me, are there any reasons you would not want to move forward with my candidacy?"
Final Question and Follow-up Email
For your own peace of mind, ask: "I think it's pretty clear that I would love to work for you. So tell me, what are my next steps and who has the action item?
In truth, you have that action item; it's a follow up email to those with whom you interviewed, which is not wasteful fluff but speaks to the specific needs you learned the hiring manager has and details exactly how you can address them. If you cannot write such a meaty, content-driven email, then don't waste the hiring manager's time with something that can be immediately deleted because it has no value.
Specific Skill-Related Interview Questions
Check out the website below.
GET THE MOST OUT OF READY PREP INTERVIEW
Search for the position you are interviewing for. The questions are listed in the order of importance based on the skills and qualities needed to do the job. Print the interview questions that are most relevant or just print the top 10, 20, or 30 questions. Below are some other useful ways to use our site:
Not sure if they will ultimately want to charge you a fee
http://www.readyprepinterview.com/
LinkedIn Search Actions to Find Others Who Held or Hold the Same Position at the Company
Consider doing a search on LinkedIn to find people currently in the role for which you’re interviewing at the company. Nice to see how you match up against the incumbents.
You also can consider whether there's merit in reaching out to someone who previously held the role to get some inside information about the company, hiring manager and the position. I think there’s very little downside risk to doing so…would the former incumbent really call the company and say…"Alice Jones reached out to me." And if the former incumbent did, is that bad??? You were doing your due diligence. That being said, please use your own judgment. It's not as cut and dried as mathematics, people being people.
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Lauren,
Good question! It takes preparation, confidence, and narrative to wow an interviewer. The following in addition to Svenja's contributions are essential pointers to leave a lasting impression:
1. Learn about the role and the company: Research the company's mission, beliefs, and current initiatives prior to your interview. Consider how your abilities fit the requirements of the position for which you are seeking. This demonstrates sincere preparation and attention.
2. Create Powerful, Explicit Responses: When responding to behavioral questions, use the STAR approach (Situation, Task, Action, Result). This keeps your comments interesting and gives them structure. Rather than stating, "I'm a good leader," give an example of a time when you led and made a difference.
3. Be Confident and Enthusiastic: Your vitality counts! Talk passionately about your abilities and background. Keep your tone firm yet natural, your body language upbeat, and your eye contact decent.
4. Get Ready for Frequently Asked Questions: Among the often asked questions is "Tell me about yourself." (Write an easily understood and interesting personal summary.)
-"What are your strengths and weaknesses?" (Be truthful, but present your shortcomings as opportunities for growth.)
-"Why do you want to work here?" (Make a connection between the company's mission and your values.)
5. Ask Thoughtful Questions: You will be remembered at the end of the interview if you asked thoughtful questions. Example: "What qualities make someone successful in this role?"
- "What challenges is your team currently facing, and how could I help solve them?"
6. Make a Powerful Closing: Prior to departing, express gratitude for their time and reiterate your interest in the position. For instance: "I'm incredibly thrilled about the chance to support your team. I am grateful for the wonderful discussion.
Bonus: You get better with practice!
To enhance your delivery, videotape yourself or practice interviews with a friend. Your voice will sound more confident and natural the more you practice.
You're capable!
Best wishes!
Good question! It takes preparation, confidence, and narrative to wow an interviewer. The following in addition to Svenja's contributions are essential pointers to leave a lasting impression:
1. Learn about the role and the company: Research the company's mission, beliefs, and current initiatives prior to your interview. Consider how your abilities fit the requirements of the position for which you are seeking. This demonstrates sincere preparation and attention.
2. Create Powerful, Explicit Responses: When responding to behavioral questions, use the STAR approach (Situation, Task, Action, Result). This keeps your comments interesting and gives them structure. Rather than stating, "I'm a good leader," give an example of a time when you led and made a difference.
3. Be Confident and Enthusiastic: Your vitality counts! Talk passionately about your abilities and background. Keep your tone firm yet natural, your body language upbeat, and your eye contact decent.
4. Get Ready for Frequently Asked Questions: Among the often asked questions is "Tell me about yourself." (Write an easily understood and interesting personal summary.)
-"What are your strengths and weaknesses?" (Be truthful, but present your shortcomings as opportunities for growth.)
-"Why do you want to work here?" (Make a connection between the company's mission and your values.)
5. Ask Thoughtful Questions: You will be remembered at the end of the interview if you asked thoughtful questions. Example: "What qualities make someone successful in this role?"
- "What challenges is your team currently facing, and how could I help solve them?"
6. Make a Powerful Closing: Prior to departing, express gratitude for their time and reiterate your interest in the position. For instance: "I'm incredibly thrilled about the chance to support your team. I am grateful for the wonderful discussion.
Bonus: You get better with practice!
To enhance your delivery, videotape yourself or practice interviews with a friend. Your voice will sound more confident and natural the more you practice.
You're capable!
Best wishes!
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Lauren, please understand that to truly impress during an interview, the key lies in your ability to showcase your expertise, experience, and interpersonal skills in a way that demonstrates your value to the organization. When it comes to answering questions, it’s important to craft responses that not only reflect your qualifications but also align closely with the company’s goals, culture, and values.
Start by thoroughly researching the company and its industry. Understand their mission, recent news, and challenges they may be facing. This knowledge will allow you to tailor your answers to show how your skills and experience directly relate to their needs. Websites like Glassdoor - https://www.glassdoor.com and LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com can offer valuable insights into the company's culture and employee experiences, giving you an edge in personalizing your responses.
When answering questions, Lauren, structure your responses using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, and Result). This approach helps you clearly outline a problem you faced, the steps you took to address it, and the positive outcome that resulted. Be specific about your contributions, emphasizing quantifiable results when possible—such as “increased sales by 20%” or “reduced costs by 15%.” This not only makes your answer more compelling but also demonstrates your tangible impact in previous roles.
Additionally, be sure to ask thoughtful questions that showcase your interest in the company and the role. Inquire about their future plans, challenges they are facing, or how the position fits into their broader strategy. This shows that you are engaged and forward-thinking, while also helping you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.
Lastly, Lauren, please pay attention to non-verbal communication. Confidence, eye contact, and a positive demeanor can make a significant difference in how you're perceived. Websites like The Muse - https://www.themuse.com) offer additional interview preparation resources, helping you to understand what employers are really looking for and how to tailor your responses to make a lasting impression. By combining solid preparation with strategic answers and engaging communication, you’ll be well on your way to impressing interviewers and standing out in a competitive job market.
Start by thoroughly researching the company and its industry. Understand their mission, recent news, and challenges they may be facing. This knowledge will allow you to tailor your answers to show how your skills and experience directly relate to their needs. Websites like Glassdoor - https://www.glassdoor.com and LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com can offer valuable insights into the company's culture and employee experiences, giving you an edge in personalizing your responses.
When answering questions, Lauren, structure your responses using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, and Result). This approach helps you clearly outline a problem you faced, the steps you took to address it, and the positive outcome that resulted. Be specific about your contributions, emphasizing quantifiable results when possible—such as “increased sales by 20%” or “reduced costs by 15%.” This not only makes your answer more compelling but also demonstrates your tangible impact in previous roles.
Additionally, be sure to ask thoughtful questions that showcase your interest in the company and the role. Inquire about their future plans, challenges they are facing, or how the position fits into their broader strategy. This shows that you are engaged and forward-thinking, while also helping you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.
Lastly, Lauren, please pay attention to non-verbal communication. Confidence, eye contact, and a positive demeanor can make a significant difference in how you're perceived. Websites like The Muse - https://www.themuse.com) offer additional interview preparation resources, helping you to understand what employers are really looking for and how to tailor your responses to make a lasting impression. By combining solid preparation with strategic answers and engaging communication, you’ll be well on your way to impressing interviewers and standing out in a competitive job market.
Updated
Laura’s Answer
Hello Lauren, here are some tips:
1) The job post is your "best friend" to help you prep for the interview. Take time to explore and understand what is needed.
2) Prep for "Tell Me About Yourself". Keep it short, honest, and tailored to the role. Highlight what makes you a great fit without oversharing.
3) Research the Company. Show them you’ve done your homework.
4) Leverage Your Network. Know someone there? Know someone who knows someone there? Reach out and ask for tips to help you prep for the interview.
5) Be curious: ask questions.
6) And keep in mind, interviews are conversations to assess mutual affinity.
Hope it helps!
1) The job post is your "best friend" to help you prep for the interview. Take time to explore and understand what is needed.
2) Prep for "Tell Me About Yourself". Keep it short, honest, and tailored to the role. Highlight what makes you a great fit without oversharing.
3) Research the Company. Show them you’ve done your homework.
4) Leverage Your Network. Know someone there? Know someone who knows someone there? Reach out and ask for tips to help you prep for the interview.
5) Be curious: ask questions.
6) And keep in mind, interviews are conversations to assess mutual affinity.
Hope it helps!