An executive job interview can be an intimidating experience, particularly for candidates in the tech industry. With the pressure to make a lasting impression and outshine the competition, it’s no wonder many candidates feel overwhelmed and anxious.
Unfortunately, the interviewing stage is often when candidates feel they have the least control of the process. Different companies, and even interviewers within the same company, use different interviewing methods, styles, and questions, making it difficult to be prepared for every situation.
Wouldn’t it be great to feel confident in the process, no matter the interview method, style, or question used?
As an executive career coach in the tech industry, I’m thrilled to show you how to craft your own interview strategy that gives you back a sense of control. Whether it’s a screening, an in-depth interview, a team interview, or a structured or unstructured interview, you’ll be able to confidently adapt and make the best impression and secure more offers.
The 3 Things An Executive Job Interview Is Designed to Discover
Despite all the various interviewing methods, styles, and questions you may experience in your job search, interviewers really only want to know three things about you. In fact, every question asked could be distilled back to one of these things, so you should focus your preparation time on them.
Show, Don’t Tell, Your Qualifications
The first thing that interviewers want to know is whether you can do the job. Do you have the skills, experience, and ability to perform the job they seek to fill?
Stand out in the sea of candidates by showing rather than telling the interviewer what you’re capable of. Demonstrate your capabilities by telling your CAR (Challenge-Action-Result) or STAR (Situation-Task-Action-Result) stories.
When telling your stories, be specific and provide examples of times when you faced similar challenges to what the interviewer is describing. This will help the interviewer see how you could apply your skills and experience to their organization.
Express Your Interest Clearly
The second thing that interviewers want to know is whether you want the job. Is this “just a job” for you, or is this the role that interests you, engages you, and challenges you?
Employers want to hire candidates who are passionate and enthusiastic about the job and the company. During the interview, make sure you convey your excitement about the opportunity and how you can contribute to the company’s success. Be sure to ask thoughtful questions about the company and the role, and show that you have done your homework.
To demonstrate you want the job, simply say so! “That interests me. That excites me.” Interviewers will never assume you want the job if you don’t tell them. So tell them!
Let Your Fit Prove Itself
The third thing that interviewers want to know is whether you will fit in with the company culture. The good news is when you focus on demonstrating that you can do the job and that you want the job, most companies will conclude that you’ll fit in.
Your strategy now is always to be answering, “Can you do the job?” and “Do you want the job?”
Of course, I know there’s more to interviewing than just this. But starting here gives puts you back in the driver’s seat of your own job search process.
Maximize Your Chances of Landing Your Dream Tech Job
Companies and individuals use all kinds of approaches to interviewing. There is no “one” method. How can you, as an executive job seeker, turn that to your advantage?
Your ability to ace an executive job interview in the tech industry increases drastically with the strategy I’ve shared. Prepare yourself in this way, and you will find you will get more callbacks for the next interviews and more offers. Regardless of the approach to interviewing they use.
As an executive career coach serving the tech industry, I’m here to help you succeed in your job search. If you need additional assistance with your interviewing skills or any other aspect of your career, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can work towards achieving your career goals and landing your dream job in the tech industry.