Leveraging their experience from working with Independent Professionals, our Talent Service Partners have shared the following tips to help you succeed in a client interview:
Tip 1 – LEARN about your client beforehand
Before coming in for an interview, make sure you do thorough research about your client. Learn about their business, key figures and competition. Get to know their key stakeholders (LinkedIn can be helpful for this). Let them know that you have studied them. One way to do this is to incorporate what you have learned into the conversation – for example, as a preamble to a reply. Importantly, make sure you get a good grasp of the project scope and reach out to your Talent Service Partner to clarify potential questions that you may have.
Tip 2 – ADAPT your story to make it relevant
You may be an expert in a specific area, or you may have broader experience across a number of relevant projects. Whatever your story, work on your introduction and replies so that they reflect any experience that is relevant to the project scope, client and industry sector. Our clients usually want to understand the extent to which you have done similar work, and what your role was in those projects. So, be prepared, listen actively, and speak honestly and concretely about your relevant experience. Ultimately, sell yourself!
Tip 3 – PRESENT your work values
Our clients look for people who can integrate into their culture and work well within their teams. Understanding your work values and working style, and communicating these concisely to the client, is an important part of the interview process. Make sure that you consult with your Talent Service Partner beforehand to understand the client’s culture and needs. This will let you bring up relevant values and working styles during the interview.
Tip 4 – ENGAGE on an emotional level
Ask questions that show you are genuinely interested and engaged in the client’s project. A tip for doing this is to use the ‘best and worst’ structure. For example, when seeking to learn more about the project role, you could ask “What are the most interesting parts of the role and what are potential areas of challenge?”, rather than asking for a generic description. This lets you connect and empathize by looking for insightful information rather than just generic data.
Tip 5 – ENERGIZE the conversation
From the start of the interview, infuse the conversation with positive energy. Maintain eye contact and show enthusiasm when you ask questions and respond, as the content of your answer may be hindered, if the tone of your voice lacks engagement or comes across as defensive or anxious. It is also important to confirm that your answers have fully addressed their question prior to pushing forward with additional details. Finally, when you ask a question, be sure to listen with equally high engagement and allow your interviewer to complete their thoughts prior to interjecting with a comment or next question.
Tip 6 – ENSURE logistics and technology work
In the case of face-to-face meetings, make sure to build in some buffer to be there in time to avoid delays. For video/phone interviews, it is best to log in several minutes prior to the start time. Do not forget to test the sound and video upfront and make sure that your internet connection is stable, so that your virtual meeting runs smoothly.
Good luck, we are here to help you succeed!
