Startup Founders Share Secrets On How To Nail Your Next Interview

Sitting for an interview as a candidate sure is tough, but did you know that the job of interviewing is much tougher?

When there is a race of qualified candidates, standing out in an interview becomes about more than just presenting your accomplishments. If your interview is crisp and your answers are more realistic than what they hear on a day-to-day basis, the job of the interviewer becomes much easier. It also gives you the upper hand in standing out. Remember the trick is about showcasing yourself and your skills in compelling and a memorable way.

So, now the question is how can you make sure you nail this final step in the hiring process?

After much research and connecting with a large number of startup founders, we have selected the best advice and secrets on how to nail an interview. Tips on how to stand out from the crowd, make the best first impression and land the job you want.

Research

One of the most important things for an interviewer while hiring a candidate is that he/she should know what exactly our company does and what we stand for. Many times, lots of applicants fail to tell us what the firm actually does.

Research is very important. It shows us that you took the effort to understand more about our company and you are keen on joining us.

– Kavan Antani, co-founder & CEO, IndieFolio

Connect, Question, And Add Value

As a co-founder of a company which requires candidates from various background, my advice to people on interviews would be –

Try to know what the company does, its vision, its future plan and your role in the company.

Talk to other people who have worked there, connect with them through social media. It’s the easiest and most convenient way to connect. Founders like to hire people who know what their strengths are and are aware as to how exactly they can add value. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about the company, even to the founders. They will respect you for that.

In short, know who you are, know what the company does, know how you can add value. If there isn’t a match, it’s better to move on to the next company than struggling to adapt and being forced to do work that you don’t like.

– Jayanth Veerendra, co-founder, CreatHives

Discussions Are Different From Stories

Now as interviewers, we want the best possible candidates to join our team. We are looking for assets and I personally believe that everyone is an asset in their own way.

After sitting through a long set of interviews, and having to narrow it down to the best out of the lot, the only possible advice I have for candidates is that we, as interviewers, have very little time as our schedules are very packed and work is hectic because we are after all a small team.

Although I enjoy listening to what everyone has to say or offer, candidates come to us with a vague vision and to them I say, “The moment you turn an interview into a discussion, know that you have nailed it.”

– Harman Preet Singh, co-founder, Starpreneur

Act Like You’re Already In

The opening for a position is filled with competition. You need to go out of your way to do a competitor analysis and send through proposals for competitive strategies going forward. You have to be proactive and show that you care so much about the company that you are willing to be responsible for its growth even before you are offered a job. This is especially true in a startup environment where the founders need to know how deeply you care.

– Dr. Divya Dhar, CEO at P3 Foundation, and co-founder, HudlHealth

Always Know More Than You Should

At Jobspire, we believe that culture is everything. When you head out for an interview, always be aware of what is happening around you. Besides wanting to know about your knowledge about the company, we want to know how updated you are about other topics.

Be a culture fit and speak the same language as the interviewer.

– Varun Mayya, CEO and co-founder, Jobspire

References

Business is all about relationships and trust. In an interview, the best thing you can do is show that you are already in the interviewer’s circle. You should try to mention at least one or two people the interviewer knows and trusts.

– Gideon Kimbrell, co-founder & Chairman, InList

Well, there you have it from the horse’s mouth. Follow these steps and you’ll be good to go for your next job interview. Remember that it’s not just the interview that matter, but also what you do before it.

Preparation, as always, is key.

[The author Priya Rangan is a regular blogger at Piwipie.tumblr.com. This post first appeared on Jobspire and has been reproduced with permission.] 

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