The Interviews

This is a continuation of my series on job hunting; the first installments are here and here.

Okay, dear readers, you've searched for openings that fit your parameters (while keeping an open mind) and you've made your spreadsheet and you've submitted your applications - so now what?  Well, hopefully you'll get an interview or two!

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But first, let me quickly jump in with a key difference I noticed between applying to jobs in the UK and applying to jobs in the States: things move a lot slower in America.  It's ironic, in a way, because it's really difficult to fire an employee in England while most positions in the United States are at-will, which means that you can quit or be let go with little warning and no reason.  Even though I resigned from my job in London in good faith, I still served out a three-month notice period, which is almost unheard of at non-executive levels in the States.  But when I was considering staying in England after that, my job hunt moved very quickly.  I could submit an application and be asked to interview within two weeks, and I was never left hanging after meeting with the organization.  Here in DC... well, I had a great experience where I was hired, but I know it's not always or even usually the case.  From what I've seen and heard, the time between a position being posted and an applicant being hired is much longer in the States than it is in London.  This might just be in the non-profit world, of course, but I thought it worth mentioning!  Now, back to the real topic.

I think the most important thing to mention when talking about interviews is that, actually, it should go both ways.  Not only are they interviewing you, but you're interviewing them.  Not in the same manner, obviously, but it's crucial to remember that this is your opportunity to make sure that the organization and the position are right for you.  Do your research ahead of time on their website and in any trade publications so you can ask relevant questions to find out more than what's on the job description, which might try to cast as wide a net as possible to attract applicants.

As a bonus, this will show your interviewer(s) that you prepared thoroughly for the meeting, which always makes you look good - the company will interview plenty of people who, on paper, have the right qualifications, but they want to hire the right fit just as much as you want to find it.  If you show them that you've gone above and beyond the call of duty in learning about the role, they'll know you value your career.  This includes not just researching the position itself, but the structure of the department, the company's history, and perhaps even your potential future colleagues.  LinkedIn is a huge help in this last area; you can learn a lot about the job/company you're applying for by checking out its current employees.  I've looked up positions I was going to apply for and discovered more about them based on the career progression of the people currently in the jobs, and I've looked up the people who would be interviewing me and made note of things we had in common that I could mention to build a relationship during the process.  (Also, I've used LinkedIn to held me decide whether or not to apply for a job I was interested in based on whether the person currently in the role was way more or way less qualified than I when s/he was hired, which can be a good indicator of the experience they're hoping for in an applicant.)

So that's what I've learned about preparing well for interviews.  In the interview itself - well, there are tons of resources out there that can help with the specifics, from what to wear to how to answer scary questions!  My favorites are:

Levo League

The Prepary

The Daily Muse

Monster.com

The time after you've been interviewed can be the most excruciating of all, because there's not too much you can do but wait.  Of course, you still want to be proactive here; I've always gotten a good response when I've emailed a thank-you note to my interviewer that included a detail we discussed at the meeting and reiterated my enthusiasm for joining the organization.  (Some resources recommend sending a hand-written card, but, to be honest, I'm not sure that's necessary in this day and age.)  The two other things you should do are mostly mental:

First, don't psych yourself out.  I always get into my head after interviews and analyze all the things I feel I might have gotten wrong.  Even if you had an awkward moment or two during the interview, it will have been a productive experience for both you and the interviewer(s).  There's no point in telling yourself that you lost the job because of one answer you wish you had phrased differently.  What's done is done, and every interview is a learning opportunity.

Second, keep your eyes open for other job openings.  You don't want to sink into a depressive oh-my-goodness-I-failed-that-interview place, but it's just common sense not to count your chickens before they hatch.  (That's one of my mom's favorite expressions, by the way.)  Who knows?  You might stumble on a recently-posted vacancy that's an even better fit, or you might find a position that could be used as leverage.  It's always worth actively hunting up until the moment you get an offer.

But keep your fingers crossed that you do get called back for another interview and/or are offered the job!  And if that happens... well, check back next week for that, dear readers.  In the meantime, think positively about this process!  It's better than the alternative, right?

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