Three Ways to Prepare for Your Upcoming Interview
Our team at CMRG gets asked a familiar question every day by candidates.
“What’s the key to knocking an interview out of the park?
With decades of combined experience, our team wanted to share three tips to help you prepare for your upcoming interview. Proper preparation for an interview will keep you confident, showcase your skills, and dazzle the hiring manager!
- Tell Your Story
Everyone has a story, and your prospective employer wants to know yours. Related anecdotes regarding life and work experience can answer questions your potential employer has yet to ask. Speaking directly and confidently about yourself will display your ability to articulate concise information purposefully, a deeply important facet of communication.
CMRG recommends you provide a broad overview of your work history while highlighting relevant experiences and leadership roles. Share details of how you function on a team and interact with coworkers. Talk about that great achievement you made, or how you overcame a challenge! If possible, back up your anecdote with metrics. Stories are great, but hard data is a surefire way to impress your interviewer.
2. Prepare to Share Your Reason/Motivation for Looking for a New Opportunity
Whether you’re looking for a new role because of a desire for new experiences, a better work/life balance, or the pursuit of alternative growth opportunities, you can anticipate this topic of conversation will likely arise in your next interview.
Don’t shy away from the opportunity to articulate exactly what you are looking for in your next role. Transparency can help to establish trust between your interviewer and you, as they can understand clearly what you expect and if you are the correct fit. Planning ahead for this conversation will allow you to truthfully and professionally discuss the reason for your transition, whereas stumbling over your answer can be a red flag. A well-articulated answer speaks to your character and reassures a future employer they can anticipate the same respect.
3. Showcase What You Can Bring to the Table
In tandem with sharing why you are leaving your current position, articulate why the company should hire you!
A key step to this process is doing your research on the company and brand. If you come into the interview with a clear understanding of company culture and brand, it can really impress the hiring manager. For example, when CMRG is looking to hire internally, we take note when a candidate mentions Izzy Boo, our Chief Canine Officer. This shows that they parsed through our website, taking the time to be better prepared. If you ask very specific questions aimed towards the brand, it shows you care about the company already and will increase your value!
Get specific, relating experiences from past successes to anticipated responsibilities in the new role. This demonstrates an understanding of the role, and the hiring manager will know you are already thinking about how you can elevate the company.
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