{"id":119658,"date":"2021-08-10T18:03:43","date_gmt":"2021-08-10T18:03:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/?p=119658"},"modified":"2021-08-10T18:03:43","modified_gmt":"2021-08-10T18:03:43","slug":"too-many-people-forget-to-do-these-5-obvious-things-before-their-job-interviews-says-ceo-of-10-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fin2me.com\/business\/too-many-people-forget-to-do-these-5-obvious-things-before-their-job-interviews-says-ceo-of-10-years\/","title":{"rendered":"'Too many people' forget to do these 5 obvious things before their job interviews, says CEO of 10 years"},"content":{"rendered":"

No matter how many job interviews you've been on, or how well you think on your feet, most people are rarely as prepared as they should be.<\/p>\n

In fact, as the CEO of a recruiting firm, I've spent decades interviewing candidates, and I've seen even the most experienced candidates \u2014 with the most impressive resumes \u2014 make rookie mistakes that can easily destroy a first impression.<\/p>\n

Here are five obvious things too many people forget to do before the big job interview:<\/p>\n

1. Learn about the company's story, products and services<\/h2>\n

People miss this one all the time: They go into an interview without a strong understanding of what the company does.<\/p>\n

Just knowing the basics isn't enough. Learn all you can about the company \u2014 its history, leadership team, current successes and challenges. If possible, get the company's products and services: Buy them, try them and talk to people who use them.<\/p>\n

And use your head in the interview. If you're meeting with PepsiCo and you're offered a beverage, don't ask for a Coke.<\/p>\n

Greater knowledge about the company's customers will also help you present your skills and experiences in context. You'll appear more relevant to the hiring manager, and the more relevant you are, the better the connection you'll make.<\/p>\n

2. Research who you're going to meet and prepare some icebreakers<\/h2>\n

When your interview is arranged, get the names and titles of everyone you'll meet. You can even ask the coordinator if there's anything they think you should know about those people.<\/p>\n

The goal isn't just to research who they are, but to look for connection points, e.g., you both worked at the same company several years ago.<\/p>\n

This will help you come up with some icebreakers. One candidate, for example, noticed my alma mater on my LinkedIn profile and said, "I see you went to USC. That was a great Rose Bowl game last year!"<\/p>\n

If you can't find anything in the interviewer's profile, look for current themes. Maybe the company just announced a new product, or the CEO was recently on CNBC with positive news about the company.<\/p>\n

Even a benign observation \u2014 e.g., "I see that the company just made an acquisition. This must be a very exciting and busy time" \u2014 can be an effective opener and conversation starter.<\/p>\n

3. Have meaningful questions to ask<\/h2>\n

Midway into the interview, the hiring manager asks, "What questions can I answer for you?" Replying with "I'm good, thanks!" shows a lack of preparedness, interest and engagement.<\/p>\n

Your questions should be smart and strategic, probing the job responsibilities and goals or how the department functions. The questions you ask also show the interviewer how you think.<\/p>\n

Here are some examples of smart questions:<\/p>\n