Do these 3 things to pass your next interview

🔵 The secret to interviews isn’t about being qualified, it’s about being memorable.

Hey networkers,

With 1 month of summer left, hiring managers are starting to return from their vacations. You know what that means right?

Recruitment season is coming up soon.

So, let’s talk about passing interviews. In this article, I’ll outline the 3-step formula that’s gotten me through 5 / 6 of my previous interviews.

That’s an 83.3% success rate!

Here’s the route for today

🦜 Topic: The Winning Interview Formula

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TOPIC
The Winning Interview Formula

Step 1. The interview starts way before the actual interview

Most people think they should prepare ONLY for the interview day, which is partially incorrect.

Your point of contact with the company happens way before this. Most will have you doing coffee chats or phone screenings leading up to the interview, and these are always described as “casual.”

But don’t fall for this trap.

Recruiters will tell you that these so-called “casual” talks won’t affect your interview chances. In reality, they do.

You are being judged in these chats.

You see, the company ultimately hires people they like. It doesn’t matter how qualified you are, if the hiring manager can’t see themselves working with you, they won’t bring you on board.

So, understand that the interview starts the moment you get into contact with the company, and present your best, polished self.

Step 2. Make the interview feel like a conversation

The above was what my 1st manager told me.

It was also the deciding factor that got me hired.

It’s the most important factor of any interview because let’s say you have 3 equally skilled candidates.

If that’s the case, how do you choose which one to hire?

The answer is feeling. Hiring managers will often choose the candidate they had the most fun talking with and it comes down to the age-old saying:

That “feeling” aspect, it’s the key to being memorable.

Step 3. Ask the right questions

The biggest red flag you can give off is having no questions at the end of the interview.

Always have questions, that’s a non-negotiable.

The general rule of thumb is to ask “how” or “why” questions because they spark better conversations.

If you’re looking for specific examples, here are 3 questions I would always ask:

1. I’m sure you’ve taken on many in the past who were qualified. However, in your experience, what was the difference between those who performed poorly vs those who excelled in this role?

2. With the vast amount of experience you have, what has kept you in this company and industry after all these years?

3. Given our chat today, is there any reason you wouldn’t move me forward to the next step?

Closing Thoughts:

That’s it for the 3-step formula! While it’s easy to follow, it can take a bit of practice to master, especially steps 2 and 3.

I’ll explain steps 2 and 3 in detail next week.

See you next Tuesday 🤝

-Michael Ly

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MOTIVATION
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This section is meant to give the readers a sneak peek into my life and hopefully inspire others to try new things!

Last Saturday, I went to Toronto’s harborfront for my weekly run club!

After graduating, these activity groups have been the best way for me to meet new people.

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1. To learn about my career journey, click here

2. To learn how to tailor your resume, click here

3. To learn how I passed my interviews, click here