Little things that can give you competitive advantages in job Interviews — notes

Job interview tips/checklist (in no particular order of priority. the ones I think are important are highlighted in bold)

Before the interview:

• Check the LinkedIn profiles of the people you will be interviewing with. Do you find anything interesting in their profile? Do you see any similarities to your career path/ aspirations/ hobbies? You can ask some good questions during the interview based on this research.
• Adapt a ‘mindset’ that you already are ‘doing’ and ‘have the skillsets/ competencies’ to perform what it takes to succeed in the role you are applying for.
• Suit up! Wear a blazer or any other professional outfit. Wear any professional outfits which would make you feel confident and comfortable.
• Read the job description, and read about the top 3 skills for the position. Weave those skills into your stories during the interview.
• Be prepared with one or two personal questions for the interviewers and one or two questions related to the job you are interviewing for.

During the interview:

• Join online 5 minutes before each interview to avoid technical issues with Zoom/ MS teams/ google meet.
• Remember that as much as the company is interviewing you, you are also interviewing the company.
• If you do not understand a question during the interview, do not hesitate to ask clarifying questions to the interviewer.
• If you do not feel comfortable for some reason or need more time to think, excuse yourself and sip some water. It helps you relax and refocus.
• Tell your story with confidence. Tell how you have relevant experience and skillsets to perform amazingly for the job you are applying to.

After the interview:

• Write a follow-up email thanking people interviewers for their time and one of two things you learned during the discussion. Finish up the email by saying you look forward to the next steps. Surprisingly, most people do not take 5–10 minutes to write a follow-up email after the interview. Even if you have decided not to work for the company during the interview, always try to end on a high note. The people you meet and the relationships you build along the way are sometimes worth the time invested in interviewing with them. It’s very typical for people not to respond to your thank you emails. However, it will leave a good impression on you.

The people you meet and the relationships you build along the way are sometimes worth the time invested in interviewing with them.

• Write another follow-up email if you're still waiting to hear back within a week after the interview.
• If you foresee yourself working with the interviewer or the company, connect with them on LinkedIn. Check-in with them at least once every year.

Good luck with your interviews. You are going to get that dream job of yours!

~Rahul Sekar