Interview Success Metrics
Unsurprisingly, the interview success metric most of my interview coaching clients are concerned about when we first talk is getting the job offer. I think it's important to focus on "metrics" (yes/no questions) that are within your control, so you can evaluate each interview as well as next steps and how you're choosing to show up in the future. It's completely possible to have a successful interview and not end up in the role for a variety of reasons.
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1. Did I have a great conversation where I learned something new? - Even if you don't get the job or decide you don't want it, there's a lot you can learn from an interview. Treating the interview like a conversation is another great way to take some pressure off of yourself so you can tackle number 2.
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2. Did I feel like I put my best foot forward and confidently represented my experience? - It's always a great feeling to be able to talk about yourself and past experience confidently. Knowing that you put your best and authentic foot forward also ensures that if you didn't get the job, it probably wasn't going to be a good fit for you anyway.
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3. Did I get the information I needed to decide if this is the right role for the next step in my career? - This is also a chance for you to fully understand the role, company, manager, and team. More important than getting the job offer is you accepting, knowing that it's the right choice for you. Use the "do you have any questions for me?" time to interview the interviewers. Be respectful of that time by prioritizing the questions that matter the most to you, and asking different questions across interviewers if you've already received a satisfactory answer.
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Note- I know it can be hard to see beyond getting the offer if you desperately need a job, and I understand that. It's a privilege to be able to choose the right role for you. However, I've found that simply reframing an interview this way to take some of the pressure off can help you get the offer as well! Realistically, it's going to take more than one interview to find your next role, you might as well enjoy the process at the same time.
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Need help with any of this? Let us know!