5 Interview Tips: From Details to Chemistry.

Let’s face it. Interviews can be grueling. We assume because we have degrees or know someone we’re a shoe-in. Here’s some open distilled thoughts. Feel free to add or subtract.

1. Details: know the details of the position you are applying for. Know it inside out. Talk to those who are employed at that organization beforehand, and those in the office, customers, clients, etc. Ask them about the position. The challenges it faces. Google the organization. What are the blogs, news media outlets, Facebook and Twitter, and other companies saying about the organization? If possible, talk to the person who just vacated the position, or others that currently occupy similar posts. Know the details and the needs. Know where the organization is headed.
2. Gear: dress according to the position you are interviewing for. If you are applying for an office type position, might be helpful that you dress as to how you will actually be dressing during the course of your position. Always consider dressing one-level up from your interviewers.
3. Assumptions: assuming from the job description and your halfway there. Do not assume. Get the facts ahead of time. Follow their Facebook page, or Twitter stream.
4. Training & Experience: having a degree no matter how high from any institution is great, but stating it during the interview over and over as if this will win you support without answering the substance of the questions probably won’t get you much traction. Experience over degrees often matter even more, in particularly for execution-driven organizations.
5. Chemistry: chemistry matters, and it doesn’t start on the date of the interview. All pre-correspondence between you and the human resource officer, the co-founders, staff and community matter. On the day of the interview, it should be as natural and as pleasant as can be. If the interviewing committee can picture themselves working alongside you, you have chemistry.

PS: It will help the interviewing committee decide much more quicker if they know or have heard about you. That’s the next post. Saludos, David

David Molina is the Founder and CEO of BilingualHire, a consumer internet service focused on advancing the careers of bilingual [Spanish+ English] talent. You can reach him by email (david@bilingualhireco.com), twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.