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Tips from a Headhunter: Your Next Interview
18 de June de 2021
This is it… All those years of studying and getting ready for this, all of our skills and competencies — everything is going to be tested today. A job interview is quite similar to meeting the final boss in the video games we used to play as kids — that is, only if you don’t already have the keys and most important tips saved in your “cheats” folder. It’s up to you . Do you want to be the nervous candidate that doesn’t know what to do or the one that chooses to keep on reading this article and become the confident and self-assured candidate that rocks the interview?
Inés Schvartzman, Headhunter & Career Coach at One Talent, tells us all we need to know in order to successfully complete an interview:
1 - Warm Up
Like with everything that means something, we will need to do some groundwork. Mark the date on the calendar and follow these guidelines before the arrival of the big day:
- Look It Up: We must do some research on them and understand what it is that we can bring to the company.
- Job description: “It’s super important for the candidate to study the job description”, Inés told us. In the job description we will find the most valuable and necessary information to prepare for our interview — it contains the mission, the functions and the requirements of the position we’ll be filling. Inés stressed the importance of having ready different examples of situations where we’d carried out these functions previously, whether in professional or academic instances. Answering with yes or no will not add value to our answers — different examples will.
- Rehearse: Practicing the possible questions and our possible answers in front of a mirror or with someone will prepare us to be more confident when we get to the interview.
2 - What do they value?
Believe it or not, your professional experience or your academic training are not the only important part of your profile — soft skills are becoming increasingly important qualities for candidates. Try finding out which are your strengths and develop that which you have not been paying much attention to. “Currently, we pay more attention to the soft skills instead of just focusing on whether the candidate could fit the position technically”. These are the skills that will help us to successfully fulfill the role — skills such as our learning capacity or our adaptability. “Being a person that is constantly learning will allow you to quickly learn how to carry out functions that you may never have carried out before”. This is the reason why, often, interviews are based on challenges or carried out in groups, where candidates are judged on their reaction to different situations.
3 - The classic questions
If there are questions that are always there, it’s because the answers are very useful for the interviewers. Take note and prepare your answers:
- Where do you see yourself in X years time? It may sound like the perfect claim for a motivational mug, but this question is the most common in any interview. “This question is all about being honest —says Inés—. But, remember, we must always give an answer that fits the position we’re applying for, since this question is asked to see the possible professional development one seeks in the company. They must see that you have ambition, but that you’re also down to earth”.
- Tell us one strength and one weakness: If you thought of saying “I’m too much of a perfectionist”, try harder. This answer has been heard a million times. Maybe go for something like Michael, from The Office: “—Why don't I tell you what my greatest weaknesses are? I work too hard, I care too much and, sometimes, I can be too invested in my job. —Okay. And your strengths? —Well, my weaknesses are actually strengths”. This may not work, though, unless you have his charisma. Inés knows how it goes: “It’s the time to sell yourself”. Her advice is to go back to the Job Description and find your strengths, linking them to the requirements of the position.
- As for the areas for improvement she tells us: “Think of 2 or 3 that don’t affect the position directly but be very aware of them and let them know you’re working on a plan of action to address them. This will show your willingness to improve”. Go through advice you’ve gotten before or an area that someone has told you before in order to identify them. The sooner you identify them, the sooner you’ll be able to make amends.
- Why are you the right person for this position? Sell yourself! “It’s important not to be afraid to highlight our strengths”. Inés points out that this “is the time to differentiate yourself from the rest of the candidates”. It doesn’t matter if you’re humble and talking about yourself doesn’t suit you — for one day, you must try hard and become Cristiano Ronaldo. It’s not necessary to get to the point of saying “I’m rich, handsome and the best player”, but it is necessary to bring out your most valuable traits and differentiate yourself from the rest.
- How much would you like to be paid? Inés’ advice is to search the labour market —using sources like Glassdoor or salary studies from big consulting firms like Michael Page— in order to provide the right number. It’s not important to give a precise number: we can answer with a salary range.
4 - How should you act?
As important as it is to prepare what is going to come out of our mouth, it’s equally important to prepare what we’ll be saying without speaking. Non-verbal communication says a lot about ourselves without having to say anything with words. Smiling, looking people in the eyes, calling people by their name… Basic tips that present us as an attentive person who is enthusiastic about the job we’re applying for.
A common mistake made by candidates is when they start answering a question and they then deviate from the point and don’t give the interviewers the information they were looking for. “Pay a lot of attention to the question and answer in a direct manner”.
“The most important thing is to be natural and not try to play a part”. During an interview we’re all nervous. But, think about it. Nothing could be easier than being ourselves.
5 - The last impression
After the interviewers are done with their questions, the time comes for us to clear any doubt we may have. Inés' advice is to always have a few questions ready to ask, but she warns us: “We pay a lot of attention to the questions made by candidates because they show us their level of motivation”. Forget about asking whether it’s hot in the office and ask interesting questions that show them that you’ve studied the company and the position you aspire to fill.
Do the research for your next interview, investigate the company you’re applying for, let them know about your soft skills —such as yout adaptability and learning capacities—, differentiate yourself from the rest of the candidates and sell yourself as best as you can. Pay attention to all these requirements and step into your next interview full of confidence and with everything under control.
Article in collaboration with: Inés Schvartzman, Headhunter & Career Coach at One Talent.