I’m the Director of HR at a small software company and we’re ramping up some hiring again. It’s on the brain, so I thought I’d share a couple of quick to-dos (and don’ts) I’ve observed for all current and future job seekers:
- Accept water or a drink if offered.
- Come prepared with questions. Pulling out a notebook of them is okay and shows you were prepared.
- Arrive 5-10 minutes early in the office. Not 15-30 minutes. If you get there early, wait it out in the car.
- Really early is still better than a little late.
- Validate that you understand what the interviewer is asking before you answer it. Bullshitting is obvious.
- Be open about your weaknesses and challenges. We don’t want to hear that you’ve never failed. We want to hear that you’ve failed and learned from it.
- Don’t bring your mix-tape to give to the interviewers (true work history).
- Dress code for the interview – if pictures of the company are available online, dress one level up from what seems to be the standard. Otherwise, one level up for the industry standard.
- Write a cover letter. I know. But applicants who still take time to do this really stand out.
- Bring a copy of your resume even if you’re not explicitly asked to. Offer it to the interviewers at the beginning. They may not need it, but if they do you don’t want to be stuck without it.
- Ask these questions of interviewers to help get a more genuine feel for the culture/growth – people will light up or get robotic:
- What’s your favorite part of the culture?
- How did you get started/grow with the company?
- Run through your career narrative before you start interviewing. What are the highs? What are the lows? What have you learned from each position? What are you proud of? What could you have done better? These questions will help you piece together a handful of good stories that you’ll be able to tell during interviews that demonstrate your experience and growth.
- Be specific. General philosophies about what you would do or what you believe are last resorts. Give examples of what you have done.
- A good handshake does matter a little. No death grips or fish hands, please.
- Send thank you emails the day or the day after an interview. So many people skip this and people who don’t stand out.
- Don’t list “a healthy knowledge of all things erotica” as part of an answer to “what makes you unique?” (true story)
- The whole time you’re at the company, you’re interviewing, even if it’s in a casual/in-between moment. No vaguely racist comments over lunch (another true story).
- Remember, you’re interviewing the company as much as they’re interviewing you.
- Do care a little about the company you’re interviewing for … if you really don’t care where you work, the best places to work won’t hire you. (Answering “I just need a job” during a phone screen will have you dead in the water.)
- Communicate openly. Be yourself. People are just people, on both sides of the table.
With Love,
Natalie