Interviewing for a new role can be a minefield of stress and anxiety. Jumping headfirst into a conversation which could potentially determine the course of your career can fill us with intrusive thoughts of self-doubt making it more difficult to showcase both your professional achievements and shining personality.
Let’s take a look at what are arguably the most important portions of any interview – the first and last 3 minutes.
The first 3 minutes are all about making that ever important first impression. Building rapport with the hiring manager even before any “hard-hitting” questions are asked can make a huge difference in how you both feel about the interview. Some easy and effective ways to do this are:
- Smile, laugh, and focus on warmth.
- Make eye contact, establish presence.
- Mirror your interviewer’s tone and energy.
- Make small talk (or at least engage with theirs).
- Leverage connection points.
These early stages of an interview are often where you’ll be asked to speak a bit about yourself. This is a great opportunity to showcase the softer side of your abilities, but it’s crucial that you avoid the trap of telling a rambling life story. Keep your answer concise and focused on your career path while steering toward how your experience can benefit their organization. The power of referring back to the business shows that you are passionate about joining the team while also demonstrating that you have done your research and have learned as much as possible about the company.
It’s nearly impossible to change a first impression, so make a good one!
Those crucial last 3 minutes are where you’ll have the opportunity to leave a strong and memorable final impression with your interviewer. You want them to leave the interview with positive thoughts about you and the highly productive conversation you’ve just had! Prepare 6 or 7 questions you can ask that will showcase your knowledge and interest in the company and role you’ve applied to.
Here are a few examples of how you can make a lasting last impression:
- Ask about what a successful hire for this role would look like after 30-60-90 days.
- Ask about a new company initiative that was announced in last quarter’s earnings call.
- Ask about the biggest challenge their department is facing right now.
- Ask about the hiring manager’s leadership style and how their team’s feedback is acted upon.
- Ask about the interviewer’s experience working with the company – how long they’ve been there and what they love about their job.
Finally, close the interview by thanking them for their time and determining what next steps will be taken. Make sure you have someone to follow up with so you can get feedback as soon as it is available and always remember to smile!