I don’t know about you guys, but oh my gosh do I get nervous before an interview. I try to think of all of my skills and all of my accomplishments that would impress the interviewer. I try to think of answers to standard interview questions that involve how well you work with others, times you had to make a difficult decision, why you want to leave your current job, etc.
Sometimes, even if you think you’ve answered all of these questions correctly and are the most qualified applicant, you still get passed up for the job. This can be both infuriating and confusing, but luckily I came across an article from The Muse that might explain why.
For “The #1 Thing Hiring Managers Are Looking For” author Kristin Flink Kranias, co-founder of startup company Hipiti, goes on a quest to find the most important quality managers look for when hiring. She first thought about her own experiences hiring for her company, and she asked 10 of the most prolific hirers she knows. She also talked to HR directors at billion dollar companies, founders of top recruiting firms, and hiring managers at fast-growing startups.
“We heard similar advice from every one of them: Standing out from the equally-qualified pack and getting that job offer most often boils down to “fit,” Flink Kranias writes.
To explain what fit means, she goes on to give examples from hiring manager she spoke with for this article.
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“It’s not about how similar you are to your interviewer. Fit is about having a unique perspective that enhances the team while also proving you’ll get along with the team.”
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“All else equal, fit is someone who would make a seamless transition into the department from day one.”
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“Fit is someone who has a genuine, demonstrated interest in the company and product on top of a creative approach to the role.”
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“Fit is the person I would be most excited to have walk into the office the next day.”
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“It’s finding someone that I’ll want to go have a beer or glass of wine with outside the office because they can keep me interested.”
“Some of that seems pretty straightforward—you either fit in somewhere, or you don’t,” she writes. “But the truth is, there are some key things you can do to show the interviewer how you stand out from all of the other candidates.”
Here are some tips Flink Kranias gives for making sure your “fit” shines through:
- Understand the culture. You need to know what, specifically, the company stands for. It especially helps to know how the firm stands out compared to the competitors in its industry. “For example, one of our expert’s firms is known as the down-to-earth and laid back competitor in its field, and interviewers there are immediately turned off by hints of arrogance and boasting that might be viewed positively by other firms in their industry,” she writes.
Flink Kranias recommends job seekers do their research and show that they understand the company by implementing what they learn and relating it to the desired position throughout their interview.
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Do your homework on your interviewer. You won’t always know who you’re meeting with, but if you do, do a Google search on them to find out about their reputation and background so you can figure out what kind of behavior will intrigue them or turn them off. “Then, prep some questions that are specific to each interviewer: Ask for details about her focus at the firm, discuss current events on her specialty, or bring up a common interest you know she has outside the office,” she writes. ” When I interviewed candidates in my previous career, I always appreciated conversations where interviewees asked questions that showed they had read my bio—or, better yet, found a personal connection.”
- Talk to people at the company before your interview.
It’s also important to show how you’ll fit in to the company outside of the official interview. Use your friends and acquaintances (think LinkedIn, BranchOut, alumni groups) to research any connections you have with current employees, then reach out to them for coffee or an informational interview . This is a great way not only to gather intelligence for your interview, but to show everyone there how interested you are in the position. “Just remember: Every interaction you have with someone at the company has the potential to be evaluated as part of the hiring process,” she writes. “Be prepared for this, and keep things interview-level professional, even on friendly introductory calls.”
- Show how your experience is relevant. Spell out for the interviewer how you would fit in to the position and the company’s goals by giving a few examples of how your past experience is transferrable. That will show that you’ve thought through how you would fit in to the organization and makes things clear for the hiring manager.
“And if you’re changing roles or industries? Don’t worry—this doesn’t have to be a direct connection,” Flink Kranias writes. “In fact, it’s often more impressive when a candidate can make seemingly irrelevant experience seem very relevant to the role he or she is interviewing for. One expert, who leads marketing at a retailer, explains how a recent hire came from technology and managed to totally impress her by sharing specific ways she could translate her tech marketing tools to retail. She got the job because of her fresh ideas and creativity.”
- Make your enthusiasm known. If you really want to work for the company you’re interviewing at, let it be known multiple ways.
” Write it in your cover letter, share it during the interview, reiterate it in a follow up email or a hand-written note, and attend company or industry events,” she writes. “You never want an interviewer to second-guess your interest in a position (not to mention, every interviewer likes to think they work at a desirable place!). So, show them the love in all of your interactions.”
- Practice, practice practice. Different organizations use different methods of interviewing. “Asking the recruiter or HR contact about the interview format ahead of time is totally fair game,” she writes. “And once you know, investing time to become familiar with this style can make a huge difference. Part of the practice is hearing yourself answer the questions you think you’ll be asked out loud.” Flink Kranias recommends asking your friends to help you practice by having them ask you the questions, listening to your answers, and giving honest feedback. Did you sound genuine? Excited? Relaxed? Professional? All of these things will help show that you’re the right person for the job.
Doing the proper research for interviews does take time, but according to Flink Kranias the results are totally worth it. Taking her tips and applying them to your interview preparations will not only show your “fit,” it will also give hiring managers the impression that you took the time and therefore really care about becoming a part of their practice and doing well.
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