HOW TO ACE AN

INTERVIEW
FROM A RECRUITMENT PERSPECTIVE

K AY L A W E L L S
FA L L 2 0 1 9
OVERVIEW
Relating to recruiters

How to prep so you are ready

Three types of interviews

Questions
WHAT MAKES SOMEONE A GOOD
PNM/RECRUITER TO YOU?
WHAT MAKES SOMEONE STAND OUT TO YOU?
• Common ground
• Positivity
• Friendly
• Engaged
• Energy/ excitement
• Nervous
• “Vibes”
•
THESE ARE THE SAME THINGS
RECRUITERS WANT!
WHY WE HAVE THE LEG UP
 “Surface level conversations”
 We try to avoid this during recruitment, so why start now?
Remember interviewing is a MUTUAL SELECTION PROCESS—just like recruitment
 Recruiters are (or should be) trying to make you like them and the company
 During recruitment you have to answer questions on the spot, this is the same!
Remember their names and firm handshakes—just like when you walk PNMS out
 Recruiters are people! They have friends, a social life, hobbies, etc. so view them as a person
not as a scary robot
 They want to fill their numbers (just like we do) and hire good people because it benefits their job,
so show them you can be that person for them
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
 Create a master google doc which includes:
 The job description
 The company mission
 Recent news
 Interview questions and answers from Glassdoor
 Employee resources groups
 Add the person you are interviewing with on LinkedIn before so they can see more about you
 Lots of people will ask you three words to describe yourself! Put some thought into 3 and use those same three
every time!
 Ambitious
 Maximizer
 Passionate
 *Use words with deeper meanings (ie not driven, hard-working, outgoing, etc.)
 People always start with “walk me through your resume” or “tell me a little about yourself” so have this down
 Always have “Why __(company)___?” and “Why _(job title)__?” prepared
 They will always ask these
THE PHONE INTERVIEW

 Have the master google doc and your resume side to by side on the computer in front of you
to refer to
If you have prepared well phone interviews are easy to nail
Control F the question after they ask it so you have your notes
When preparing answers for these questions do it in bullets so you’re not reading it off
Have good questions prepared
THE VIDEO INTERVIEW

• Dress in a full business outfit

• Make sure your background is appropriate
• “Cheat”
– Have your resume or notes next to the window with the video chat open but make sure its not
obvious you’re looking at something
– Put notecards on your keyboard
THE IN-PERSON INTERVIEW

• Be bubbly and out-going they have most likely had a long day already
• Eye contact
• Similar preparation for the previous types of interviews
• Remember the names of the people you have previously spoken with at the company
• Do your research on the person you’re interviewing with before
• Try to get in touch with someone (an alumnae maybe) and find out more about their interview
experience
• Speak with confidence
• Take time to answer questions
QUESTIONS!
• Good questions can enhance your interview immensely
• This is somewhere you might potentially be spending a lot of time so make sure you ask thingsif
you’re genuinely curious
• Frame your questions in a way that you are getting an answer but it also shows them something
else of value from you
• This is the last chance you have to make an impression so do it strategically
• “As you can see I am and have always been very involved in leadership roles, what opportunities are there
for leadership even just at the entry level?”
– Shows you’re driven
– Shows you want to invest in the company
– Shows your ability to be in leadership
– The people luv it
OVERALL
Show you’re qualified but remember if they didn’t think you’d be qualified they wouldn’t
interview you in the first place
Showcases your personality
Demonstrate interest in the company and its long term
Through how you speak/ask questions show you’ve done your research
Express your eagerness to be involved in the company outside your core duties (initiatives)
 THANK YOU!
QUESTIONS?
K AY L A . W E L L S 1 2 1 7 @ G M A I L . C O M

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