5 Things To Know About Your Interviewer Before You Talk To Them

Interviewing can be stressful. No matter how many times you’ve interviewed before, your nerves can sometimes get the better of you. We get that. That’s why we’re going to arm you with some tips on things to know about your interviewer so you can nail your next interview!

Where They’ve Worked Before

Finding out where your interviewer has worked before is a great way to learn more about them. Most importantly, it gives you an idea of what kinds of career paths lead someone to work at the company you’re applying to. If you’re interviewing for a sales associate position, and you learn that your interviewer has many years of sales experience, then that might mean that they saw the company as a great opportunity to advance their careers. The company might just serve you in the same way!

How Long They’ve Been There

Depending on the company, if you find that its interviewer—and many of its employees—have only worked there for a little bit of time, that might be a red flag. Every situation is different, of course, but if you see that the company has many long-time employees, then that might be an indication that its employees are happy working there. That’s a great sign for you! Speaking of being happy at work, check out our blog about maximizing work-time happiness!

Any Mutual Connections?

You should always do your research about a future employer before you interview. An easy way to accomplish this is to hop onto social media, especially LinkedIn, and see if you have any mutual connections with your interviewer. Maybe a friend or a former coworker knows your interviewer (and the company you’re applying to) pretty well. They can give you the inside scoop, making you better prepared when you walk through its doors to interview.

What Role They Have

Often, you’ll be meeting with a recruiter for an interview; however, you may get passed to different department heads and other folks within the company. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about how the company is structured, and what role your position might play in terms of the company overall. If you’re interviewing for a sales associate position, but you end up meeting with the store display director, then that might be a hint that you’ll be involved in some store display conversations when you work there. That’s a great opportunity for you to build experience and make new connections!

Personal Interests

We’re curious beings, and we like to connect with other people. We are human, after all. Finding similar personal interests is a great way to establish a rapport with your interviewer. This might be hard to do ahead of time, but not impossible. If you find out your interviewer is a big film buff, and you just saw the latest Academy Award nominee, then maybe that’ll be a good talking point as you make small talk with them. There’s a nuance here that should be appreciated, of course—you shouldn’t go full blown stalker (that’d be creepy), but it doesn’t hurt your chances to know a little more about your interviewer for the sake of a smooth, friendly interaction.

Aside from these tips, remember to remain calm. On the other side of that desk is another human being with their own lives, goals, anxieties, and drivers. Interviews are a fantastic opportunity for you to hone your skills, and they always result in expanding your knowledge, whether it be your knowledge of yourself, or your knowledge of an industry you’re interested in. Don’t sweat the small stuff, and try to have fun!