Changing Careers: Interviews

You’ve received an invitation to interview! Congratulations! You are in the tight percentile to get a one-on-one with an actual human, with the opportunity to bring your talents front-and-center. Whether interviewing for a role you’ve done dozens of times, or a new role in a new career you’ve never attempted before, several key interviewing “dos” hold true:

• Do your homework! - Study the company you are interviewing with. You should know what they do, who they service, how they do it, what they’re passionate about, where they are based, and the kind of reviews they get on places like Yelp, Home Advisor, or Google. The internet is at your fingertips! There is no excuse to walk into an interview without a clear understanding of who the company is and why you want to work for them.
• Dress for the part - Dressing appropriately for the job role can be make-or-break—clean, cared-for, no holes or stains, no shorts or revealing clothing. Showing up in heels to interview for a warehouse manager role wouldn’t be appropriate, as obviously you cannot walk the warehouse floor in those shoes. Showing up in baggy jeans and a greasy shirt is also not appropriate. Steel-toed boots, fitted pants, and a nice button-up shirt are great for contracting, warehouse, yard, and construction work. On the other hand, a sales staff role might encourage a tie. Business casual is the usual mode of most (home) offices these days, but interviewees are expected to step it up. Yes, even over Zoom.
• Pay Attention To Detail - Breath mints are in, gum is out. If you’re in person, watch the level of aftershave or perfumes; many people have sensitivities to scents. As more and more interviews are moved back to the office, remember to always thank and be considerate to the front desk staff. The interview actually starts as you walk into the door, regardless of how long you are in the waiting room.
• Bring Your Proof - If you are meeting live and in person, always bring several copies of your resume with you. You should have enough for each person in the room (and you should know how many that will be based on your interview invitation.) Have examples of your work that wouldn’t fit as a line item on a resume? Bring it! Not in person? Be prepared to share your screen. If names of auditors are given to you, remember them and their roles within the company.
• Be Personable - Meet your interviewers directly, make eye contact, address who asks the question but share your attention with all auditors at the table. Relax, breathe; it’s okay to smile. Bring your passion and excitement with you.
• Be Communicative - When invited to share or ask questions, bring out your homework on the company. Indicate what interests you most about what they do, ask any questions your research happened to bring up. Share why you are interested in the position, and what about this company made you want to apply to it. What did you enjoy about other job roles you’ve held that relate to this position?
• Clean and Clear - When you leave, restore your chair to the position you got it (i.e., pushed into the table), take all paper cups or paperwork offered with you. Always thank the team for their time (including the front office staff)!

When interviewing for roles outside your usual career base, include a few extra steps of prep to help with your success:

• Deep Dive - Bulk up on job descriptions and any new acronyms. For example, depending on your role, you might need to know 1) what 501(c)(3) and AFP stand for in an NPO, 2) the difference between a CFO and a CPA in the office, and 3) ACR vs. AGR in accounting. What are the role titles in the departments, and who reports to whom in the pecking line? Take some free webinar classes on the subject, read a few books about it. Do research on top companies and organizations in their field. Know the competitors in your area.
• Transferable Skills Are King! - Take note of skills on your resume that match up with the job description of the role you are interviewing for. Management history at a Dairy Queen and a house painting company is Management history...sure, they have a few differences, but what are the commonalities you can link and share? Organizing can link from a warehouse to a front office. Customer service as a waiter and customer service in tech support have many base through-lines. Mine your resume for the skill goldmine that cross-sections with new career role goals, and become the master of linking the two.
• It’s Okay To Ask - There is nothing wrong with asking questions in your interview. In fact, the more pointed they are, the more they show your homework. If you’ve studied up on a field but want to know more about how this company happens to do that thing more specifically, ask them. The more you connect the dots between your dedication to the role and learning all you can about it before the interview, the higher your chances of influence will be. Bosses like initiative—even ones who don’t know yet that they will be yours.