In-Person Interviews
In-person interviews, which are typically conducted at the office, follow video or phone assessments. This crucial final step allows you to meet face-to-face with key stakeholders to assess compatibility with the team and the work environment.
To prepare for an in-person interview, follow these best practices:
Dress appropriately.
Consider the tips provided for the video interview, although hopefully your understanding of the company culture and work environment has only grown throughout the interview process and can help guide you in what to wear. This is an opportunity to make an impactful first impression; come prepared, well-groomed, and dressed for the occasion.
Spend time reviewing the company website and have a strong handle of the company values, culture, products, and services.
Where you can, tie the information you picked up in your research into the role you are interviewing for to demonstrate your knowledge and how you can make an immediate impact.
Be prepared.
Practice your 1:1 communication skills, including non-verbal cues like eye contact and posture. It’s never a bad idea to do some mock interviewing with friends or family.
Arrive a few minutes early.
Remove the risk of running late by accounting for traffic and the time it will take to commute. Take into consideration whether the office is a standalone building or if it is a suite in a large corporate building. Confirm you know where to park and account for the time it may take to get checked into the building.
Be ready.
Keep the interview coordinator’s information readily available. This will allow you to proactively communicate if something outside of your control occurs.
Bring everything you might need.
Pack a bag that can hold your resume, any necessary work samples, references, and a notepad to take notes on. While there may not be a need to proactively provide hard copies of these resources, it is important that you have them on hand in case you are asked for them.
Be comfortable with the uncomfortable.
Embrace the silence that may happen during an in-person interview. If you are asked a question that requires some thought, take a moment to formulate your answer. It is better to provide a well-developed response instead of quickly answering the question.
Have your compensation recommendations ready.
During the in-person stage, you may be asked about your rates or salary, if it has not been addressed already. This will require some research about typical compensation ranges for the role you are interviewing for and common ranges within the company. It is ideal to have the conversation about compensation with someone close to the decision, like you're recruiter, HR or the interview coordinator. If you are asked during an interview, it is best to provide an educated, reasonable range that you are comfortable with.