If you get called in for an executive interview, then that means your resume is working just fine. That is, of course, if you are getting interview calls for the positions you want to apply for.
Everything you do before, during, and after the interview can play a significant role in getting the offer.
There are many things that you can do to get the best results.
Before the Executive Interview
Doing your homework is the first thing that you must do before anything else. So, for this, look at the company’s website and LinkedIn profile first. You can learn more about the staff, what work they do, the clients they have, and areas where you can add value.
Seeing what current and former employees have to say will be an excellent idea too.
You can even look through your list of networking contacts to see if there’s any more information you can obtain about the company. Apart from this, you can also Google the supervisor’s name for more details.
As a result of this research, prepare three to five questions that will show the interviewer that you’ve done your homework. Of course, the objective of crafting these questions means that you would like to gain more insight into the company too.
During the Executive Interview
While taking the interview, the interviewer is thinking about whether you are a match for the organization. This is something that you should be doing, as well. There’s no point joining a particular company while realizing that you don’t make for a good fit.
One common area that most executives miss out on is making a “closing statement.” It’s vital that you sum up why you make a great candidate for the position too. Just make sure that you note down these points before the interview but deliver them in such a way that they don’t sound rehearsed or canned either.
Another thing you must be doing as soon as you’re at the end of an interview is to ask what the next step is. In other words, find out whether there’s another round of interviews or the date when the hiring decision will be made. Check if you can also follow-up with the company too by email or phone. If you don’t do that, then your employer might question your interest level.
After the Executive Interview
Right after the interview, make sure you send a follow-up or a ‘thank you’ letter to thank every person you meet. No matter what, these letters are always appreciated, especially if you mail it the very same day. If this doesn’t work, then an email follow up is just fine. Thank the employer and express your interest in the position as well as ask for the next step too. This could mean either the information you’ve promised or your expectations from the interviewer.
Now, it’s important to remember that hiring will take much longer than usual. So, make sure you confirm the timetable for what needs to be done next. If you keep this in mind, then you’ll know when to follow up too.
Finally, if you don’t get another interview or the job, then it is a good idea to get some feedback from the employer. Doing this will help you in your overall job search too.
Of course, if you can’t get in touch with the hiring manager, then look at the person who was hired for the position and then looks at their professional profile to check why they were able to secure the job instead of you. There are times when you might not be able to tell. If so, move on.
In Closing
Without a doubt, these tips should be able to help improve your chances of getting a job offer. Many other tips can increase your chances even further.
So, are there any other executive interview tips that you would like to share? If so, feel free to share them in the comments section below.
