Youâve made it to the final interview of your dream job and youâre feeling really happy with yourself. Donât celebrate yet, you still have one last hurdle to jump. Preparation is key, but if youâre reading this article youâre already on the right track. Iâm a recruiter, meaning Iâve seen my fair share of interview slip-ups over the years and so Iâm here to share six mistakes to avoid during your final interview to make sure you get the offer you deserve.
1. Interview Amnesia
Throughout your previous interviews, you will have garnered a lot of information about the company, and the final interview is the time to piece together all that youâve learned. If you donât, it could spell disaster.
Iâve seen candidates ask the same questions to the same people theyâve interviewed with before. Or turn up in a suit when the âlaid back start-up cultureâ has been clearly explained to them. Using insights youâve gained from former conversations will help you stand out.
2. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail
Thereâs nothing worse than interviewing a candidate who clearly hasnât done their research. Here are the two essential pieces of preparation you need.
The first is to research the company heavily. Memorize their values, read their blogs and news articles, look up your interviewers and future team on LinkedIn, analyze their product offerings, and if theyâre a public company, look at their last quarterly report.
The second is to practice your answers to questions you think they may ask. Start by checking the job description and ensure you have an answer for each requirement. I also recommend looking at their Glassdoor page to see if past candidates shared interview questions they were asked. Always follow the STAR (situation, task, action, result) format when crafting your answers.
3. Show me the money
Donât shy away from discussing money. If you havenât discussed salary through the interview process yet then the final interview is a great time to do it. You ideally want to avoid a back-and-forth negotiation once the offer has been given as this can waste time and potentially sour a relationship. Get the offer you want the first time.
Simply ask, âWhat are you looking to pay for this role?â and ensure the interviewer gives you a figure first. Itâs better to know their expectations first just in case you wish to tailor your answer. You are under no obligation to let your interviewer know what youâre currently earning but you can inform them what youâre looking for.
4. Donât drop your guard and avoid a knockout
By the time you get to the final interview, you may feel like youâre BFFs with the recruiter or hiring manager but make sure you remain professional. Itâs easy to become complacent when youâre headed to a final interview as you think itâs in the bag. Being professional doesnât mean donât have fun, but donât drop your guard as youâre still being assessed.
5. Ask questions, become the interviewer
Itâs easy to forget that an interview is a two-way street; you need to assess them, too.
One big mistake candidates make is to ask no questions at all, which can indicate that you lack interest in the role or havenât done your research. Thereâs always a question to ask, and you can even ask the same question from a previous interview to a different person to get another point of view.
The last thing you want to do is accept a job only to find out you made a mistake down the line. Make sure youâre asking meaningful questions about the culture (both your team and company culture), expectations of the role, where the company could improve, career progression, and opportunities for learning.
6. I want it!
The final interview is a fantastic opportunity to tell your future employer face-to-face that you want the job. Many candidates miss this opportunity. Take a deep breath and tell them straight, âI really want this job and, if you present me with an offer, I will accept.â
This can make a profound impression and could be the tipping point between you and another candidate who perhaps didnât make it clear that they want the job.
Syndicated with permission from Jobbio.