Interview Prep

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INTERVIEW RESEARCH…

Your performance in an interview depends, to a significant extent, on how well you prepare. Don't leave this until the last minute.

We suggest spreading your preparation over the

days leading up to the interview for maximum

knowledge retention.

Employer-You need to show that you understand the business beyond the basics. Whatsector do do they it operate in? What challenges do they face? Who are their competitors? What case studies can you find? What are its culture and values? This kind of knowledge demonstrates a genuine interest and will set you

apart from your competition.

Role-Read the job description (if available) and talk to to your SynerjyT Consultant about the requirements for the position. It's vital that you can explain why you want the job, that you understand

the role and why the employer should hire you over other

candidates.

Interviewer-Try to find out who will be interviewing you. The email inviting you to the interview may include this information. Use LinkedIn and the 'About us' section of the company website

to find out more This may help you to connect with your

interviewers and creative a positive impression during the

interview.

Questions-You should consider how you'll answercommon interview questions, as well as preparing somequestions forthe interviewer.

Research The Team You Will Be Joining…

GENERAL;

•Where did the current team come from? •How long have they been there?

•What professional interests do they have? •How many people are on the team?

•What wider support roles do they have?

•Read News articles/Status updates

EXECUTIVE TEAM & KEY PLAYERS

•Who is the CEO?

•CMO/CTO/HR Director?

•What is the leadership hierarchy?

• Where does this role sit?

• Who is likely to be on your team

• Common interests/Discussion Points

CEO / Seminars / Product Demo’s

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Funding / Investors

Key People/Funding/Live Jobs

Additional Sources of Data for Research Purposes

The People

Industry News

Funding / Competitor Analysis

Making a Good Impression…

As you're preparing for the interview, think about ways you can show yourself in a positive light. Among the best techniques are:

Punctuality - Arriving late will increase your stress levels and give the employer a bad first impression, so do your best to arrive in good time. We advise arriving at the building at least 15 minutes before your interview.

Positivity and enthusiasm - Be polite and professional with

any staff you meet before or after the interview. During the

interview, respond to questions with positive statements,

be enthusiastic about the job and avoid negativity regarding

prior employers.

Body language - Give a firm handshake to your

interviewer(s) before and after the session. Once you're

seated, sit naturally throughout the interview, remember to

smile frequently and retain eye contact.

Clarity - Answer all questions clearly and concisely,

evidencing your most relevant skills, experiences and

achievements. It's perfectly acceptable to pause before

answering a difficult question to give yourself thinking time,

or asking for clarification if you're unsure what a question

means. When answering, don't speak too quickly.

Location - Are you situated in the best possible location to take the meeting? We suggest a quiet environment with no or very few distractions.

Lighting – The lighting in your selected location will have big impact on the interview. Sitting with your back to a window will put you in full shadow. This means you will appear very dark on screen. A ring light or high hue room lighting is preferable here

Background - Less is more here. Needless to say

clutter/washing/an untidy environment will have a detrimental impact here. If your background is not noticed by the interviewer then you have succeeded here.

CameraAngle-The best location it to have your camera at eye level. We have all been on video meetings looking up at the bottom of someone's chin. If you do not have specialist equipment, plenty of household items including books will fit the bill to raise the level.

Technology/Access-Which platform are you using?

Do you have the right tech installed?
Do you have the meeting link?
Is a password required

Online / Zoom / Teams…

The same level of preparation is required as Face- to-Face meeting, but you should also consider the following;

ADDITIONAL TIPS HERE: https://blog.zoom.us/video-meeting-etiquette-tips/

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Attend The Interview With A Game Plan

Prepare For ‘Standard’ Interview Questions….

• • • •

•

Tell me about a time when you overcame a challenge?

What have you achieved over the last 5 Years? (Be Specific)

What would you have done differently in ‘X’ role?

Why did you leave your last 3 positions (positive spin)

What are you looking for in your next role? (review the job Spec)

What are you most proud of? (next page for tips)

What Value Will You Deliver In The Interview?

What will you achieve in your first 90 Days?

What can you offer to drive role/company growth? What is the intended end-result of the meeting? Askforandaddress any reservations!

Close the interviewer for commitment.

• • • •

•

Match + 1

Method

1) Match + 1 is a tried and tested concept at Synerjy of matching the interviewers’ energy levels and adding 1 level in terms of your own energy.

2) During the meeting, this energy builds to a mutual feeling of progression for both parties and a positive outcome.

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3) What happens when there is a vast mismatch in energy?

E.g., Interviewer comes in at 7/10.

You are a 3/10…they may feel you

lack desire.

E.g., the interviewer starts at a 3/10

and you come in at 9/10… they may

feel you are too much for their

clients/customers to handle.

Know Your Career/CV

What Do Synerjy Recommend?

1)Prepare a 2 minute ’Elevator Pitch’ on each of 3 / 4

projects you have delivered

2) Prepare at least 1 fail/no win scenario combined with

learnings from this.

3) A pitch on a win you are most proud of.

4) An example of when your influence changed the

direction of a sale or project

Think About…..

How did the opportunity come about? •Who was your point of contact?

•What was the $ / £ / € project value?

•What value did you provide to the

customer/your company?

•What challenges did you face?

•Internal/external support required?

Prepare 10-15 Good Quality Questions

(Relevant To The Person You Are Meeting)

Examples;

•What do you define as ‘Success’ in this role over a 3 Month, 12 Month, 2-and 3-year period?

•What are your top priorities for the role?

•What is the scope for growth in the opportunity?

•How do you foresee growth for the organization over the next 12-36 months?

•What made you join the company?

•Is there anything you would change about the organization?

•What makes your current team successful?

•How do I compare vs other candidates you have seen or vs. what you already have in the team?

•Do you have any concerns about my experience for the role?

Questions to avoid;

The below points should onlybe qualified with your Synerjy Consultant whist you focus on providing your value proposition to the

interviewer;

•What is the basic salary ?

•How many holiday days do I receive?

•What are the working hours?

•Is there a company car?

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What Should I Wear To The Interview?

While many employers still expect candidates to dress smartly, a growing number encourage casual wear at work, making it trickier than ever to choose an interview outfit.

What you'll be expected to wear depends on factors such as

the size of the company, the industry it operates in and the

culture it promotes.

If you're unsure on the dress code, ask your Synerjy Consultant

before attending the interview.

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