The interview process for tech and engineering professionals can be arduous. It’s not unusual for candidates in these sectors to interview two to five times for a new role.
No matter how many interviews you’re scheduled for, the first one is critical. It helps the company determine whether there is enough alignment to move forward.
To advance beyond the first interview, it’s important to understand its purpose and thoughtfully prepare. At this point, the focus of the recruitment team is usually quite broad. They’ll assess your background, experience, communication skills, and motivation. If you don’t seem to be a good fit, they will likely decline to move you forward to subsequent interviews, where your technical or soft skills may be assessed in greater depth.
However, the first interview also sets the scene for an important two-way discussion. It gives you the chance to ask questions that can help you determine if:
- The role is as described in the job profile;
- The company culture aligns with your values; and
- The position provides a relevant stepping stone on your career path.
It’s important to formulate a plan for the first interview. That doesn’t mean preparing slick answers to all the usual questions. It does mean understanding how to best present your background, explaining why the role caught your attention, and demonstrating how your experience fits the employer’s needs. It also means creating a list of your own questions to assess the company for fit.
1. Understand What The First Interview Is Designed To Accomplish
Understanding the purpose of a first interview is key to arriving well prepared.
First, it’s the employer’s chance to evaluate you. The person or team interviewing you will be determining if you:
- Meet the baseline qualifications;
- Are truly motivated to make a career move or just testing the waters;
- Can communicate well;
- Are a good fit for their company culture; and
- Would be able to move into the role given their timelines and parameters.
It’s unlikely that the employer will do a deep dive into your experience or assess your technical skills at this point. Rather, they’re considering whether to continue the interview process with you.
Second, it’s your chance to evaluate the employer. In addition to having your own questions, think about how they present themselves to you. Are they answering your questions clearly and directly? Is there additional information about the role that makes it sound like a good fit? Do the interviewers and the company seem to align with your own values?
The first interview is definitely a two-way conversation. Lean into this chance to assess the role and the company.
2. Re-Read The Job Description Like You Mean It
Often, after skimming a job posting, we decide to take a chance and apply. Once we submit our application, we never look at the posting again. This is a mistake.
Whenever you apply for a position, make sure you save the job posting. Most disappear from job boards once the interview process begins.
If you are called for an interview, the posting will be invaluable. While rereading it, decide which requirements and responsibilities carry the most weight. Job postings are often quite detailed, but not everything listed carries equal importance. Instead, pay attention to:
- Technical skills or certifications that are explicitly required and not just preferred;
- Soft skills that are clearly stated; and
- Leadership and team expectations.
Once you’ve determined the most important requirements, think of specific examples where your qualifications match. That way, you’ll be prepared for those inevitable questions that ask about “A time when [fill in the blank].”
As well, if there are any qualifications or requirements you can’t meet, spend time thinking about how to address those gaps. That way, you won’t be caught off guard if the interviewer brings them up.
3. Go Beyond The Homepage When Researching The Company
Some advice for interviewees is pretty standard regardless of the role applied for. One such piece of advice is to always research the employer before the interview.
Skimming the “About Us” page on the company’s website will rarely provide the kind of in-depth details that are truly valuable. Instead, look through the entire website for information about:
- What the company does;
- Who its clients, customers, and/or markets are;
- Where its offices and facilities are located; and
- Its recent growth, including expansion to new markets, updated facilities, or new product launches.
If you’ve been given the name(s) of your interviewer or interview team, it’s also well worth your time to read their profiles on the company website and/or LinkedIn.
Don’t treat this exercise as if you are preparing for a quiz. It’s unlikely that you’ll be asked to recall random details about the company on the spot. Instead, your collected information can help you thoughtfully answer questions about why you’re interested in the role and the company. It can also help establish rapport with your interviewers and develop questions to ask them.
4. Build A Career Story That Can Be Told In 60-90 Seconds
Almost every first interview is launched with a question similar to, “Tell me about yourself.” This kind of broad question can be a minefield if you’re unprepared. The fallback answer is often a chronological recitation of educational and employment milestones. That’s not what the interviewer is actually looking for.
Instead, prepare by focussing on three facets of your career: present, past, and future. Plan to spend about 20-30 seconds explaining each. Your present explains what you do right now and where your core expertise lies. Your past covers other relevant experience that has prepared you for the role on offer, with a specific focus on those things that apply to the role and/or company. Your future looks at your career path and explains why this role is a good fit for you.
Keep your career story short, tight, and relevant. Resist the urge to over-explain.
5. Have 4-5 Accomplishment Stories Ready To Share
Stories about your accomplishments prove your value beyond what’s stated on your resume. As you prepare for the first interview, find four or five examples of your accomplishments to focus on.
Each story should highlight a specific strength, such as problem solving, leadership, conflict resolution, setback recovery, or measurable improvement. For those interviewing in the engineering, technical, or manufacturing sectors, focussing on outcomes such as the following can be particularly valuable:
- Reduced downtime;
- Improved throughput;
- Faster launches;
- Cost savings;
- Quality improvements; and
- Productivity gains.
Using the STAR method is an excellent way to frame your stories. A common interview strategy, the STAR framework encourages developing answers by explaining:
- Situation: The situation that you were in;
- Task: Your role within the situation;
- Action: The steps you took to resolve the situation; and
- Result: The outcomes of your actions.
By going beyond simply listing your accomplishments and explaining how you achieved a positive outcome, you provide insight into your skills and expertise.
6. Anticipate Predictable Questions
First interviews usually have some pretty standard questions. It’s not necessary to memorize answers that you can recite. But, by putting some thought into your answers ahead of time, you’ll be less likely to fumble during the interview.
Prepare to answer questions like:
- Why do you want to leave your current job?
- Why are you interested in this role?
- What are your strengths?
- Tell us about a recent challenge or setback that you faced.
- Are you able to work on site/at this location/in a hybrid situation/remotely?
- When would you be able to start?
By thinking through these questions ahead of time, but not actually memorizing your answers, you will appear more conversational and your communication style will be closer to your norm. (Most of us communicate differently when put on the spot.) Since interviewers can often tell when an answer is memorized or rehearsed, don’t over-prepare.
7. Bring Your Own Questions To The Table
Most interviewers expect candidates to ask questions. When you don’t bring questions to the table, it’s more than a missed opportunity. Not asking questions will likely affect the interviewer’s perception of you – and often not in a good way.
Thoughtful questions do two things. First, they give you additional information to help you decide if YOU want to proceed with further interviews. Second, your questions signal to the interviewer that you have an authentic interest in the position and that you’ve been thinking critically about how the company’s values align with your own.
Some questions can be asked at virtually any first interview. Others should be tailored to the specific role, company, and/or interviewers. Consider asking questions like:
- Why is this position open?
- How will success for this role be measured?
- What challenges are currently facing the team that I would join?
- What are the biggest priorities for this role in the first six to twelve months?
- Is there room for career advancement with you?
- What are the next steps in this process?
Unless the interviewer raises them, avoid bringing up compensation, benefits, or paid time during the first interview. There will usually be opportunities to discuss these topics in greater detail as the interview process progresses
8. Handle The Logistics Before The Interview Day
Arriving for the interview on time, prepared, and ready to dive right in makes a great first impression. Whether your interview is in person or online, make sure you’ve thought through and tested your game plan for the day.
If it’s a virtual interview, confirm that you have the meeting link and start time – and double-check your time zones. Test your hardware and internet connection, and minimize or turn off your notifications. Try out your camera at the same time of day as your interview is scheduled for, to ensure your lighting is sufficient and in a good location. Keep your resume and job description handy for easy reference.
For on-site interviews, confirm the address, figure out parking logistics, and plan to leave early in case of traffic disruptions. The optimal arrival time is about 10-15 minutes earlier than the interview – that way, you’re neither wasting time and stressing in the lobby nor are you rushing in frazzled and late. Bring a few printed copies of your resume just in case.
9. Close The Conversation With Intention
The way that you end the interview is enormously important. If you’re still interested in the role after the conversation, say so – don’t leave the interviewer guessing. It’s also worth asking if there is anything further that they would like to address before you leave.
Before leaving, make sure you understand the interviewer’s expectations regarding the timeline and next steps. And once you’ve left, always write a thank-you email.
The Bottom Line
A strong first interview is rarely about showing up with a perfectly prepared answer for every question. More often, it’s about thoughtful preparation. Being called back for a second interview often hinges on how well you:
- Understand the company and the role;
- Demonstrate how your own qualifications and experience align with their needs;
- Explain your accomplishments; and
- Ask relevant and meaningful questions.
If you’ve thoughtfully explained what you can do, why you’re interested, and why they should keep talking to you, you’ve given a strong first interview.
If you’re currently looking for a job, our recruiters at 180 Engineering can help you find roles to apply to, prepare for all your interviews, and debrief with you after each one.
