You’re almost there. Your resume/CV landed you an interview and now it’s time to seal the deal. So what’s the best way to prepare?
To find the answer, I looked back on my interviews, sifted through research, and most importantly, asked employees from today’s most coveted companies. I tried to find deep insights beyond the typical “sit up straight!” and “dress to impress!” tips we hear too much.
Research Earnings Calls, Quarterly Reports & Blog Posts
In today’s world, content is king. Goldman Sachs publishes quarterly reports, Microsoft records its earning calls, and every startup has a blog.
With so much out there, I’m baffled that few of us look past the company’s homepage. It’s like we’re writing an essay on Hamlet without quoting a single passage from the play. Not only will insight knowledge help you prepare for potential questions but it will also help calm you nerves with the knowledge you are ready for anything.
Check out the competition
It is the unsung hero of most successful interviews, it is that of commercial awareness. Commercial awareness is vital to getting a job with most businesses, as it shows that you have researched the company and its industry in depth. Commercial awareness can be summed up as understanding the wider environment in which your chosen company works, from its place in the market to how it interacts with its customers.
Whether you work in healthcare, financial services, sales or marketing, all industries have competition and knowing what your up against shows your interviewer you are not only a strong internal asset but one that can assess and tackle external challenges as well.
Schedule For Tuesday at 10:30 AM
According to Glassdoor, the best time to interview is 10:30 AM on Tuesday. Remember, your interviewer has a world of duties and responsibilities beyond hiring. They’re responding to emails, balancing projects, and meeting tons of other candidates so it’s crucial to consider when they’ll be in the best mental state to meet you.
10:30 AM Tuesday is the sweet spot because you:
- Avoid the bookends. On Mondays and Fridays, employees gear up for the week or wind down. By the same token, avoid the first or last slots of any workday.
- Avoid lunchtime. Immediately before noon, your interviewer may be too hungry to concentrate; immediately after, they may be in a food coma.
But there’s a caveat. Research shows it’s best to take the earliest interview slot “in circumstances under which decisions must be made quickly or without much deliberation because preferences are unconsciously and immediately guided to those options presented first.”
Bottom line: if the firm is hiring for a job starting in a few months, try to interview late morning between Tuesday through Thursday. If the firm is hiring immediately, grab the earliest slot.
Avi Kasmir
Consultant Specialist