I want to share exactly what you need to do to prepare for that HR interview.
I help professionals with interview coaching all the time.
A lot of people have a lot of nerves when it comes to that first stage interview call.
You know the one.
It is the call with the recruiter where they want to get to know you a little bit more.
It is a great opportunity for you to learn more about the company and for them to check you are the right fit.
Try not to put so much fear into it.
I am going to show you exactly what you need to do to be prepared.
This will help you succeed in those opportunities and take the pressure off a little bit, because it is just a conversation at the end of the day.
First of all, congratulations 🥳
You have been submitting your CV, tailoring it, and spending hours exploring different opportunities.
By now you might have had a lot of rejections coming through.
I understand completely how tough that is, so I do not want to underestimate the feeling of securing this interview.
It is fantastic and you want to put your best foot forward.
Remember though, this is not a full scale job interview.
This is a chat with the recruiter. Remember that and take the pressure off yourself a little bit.
Understand the Recruiter's Goal
The point of this conversation is that the recruiter has recognised you have the skills and experience.
Your profile meets the brief they have been given by the hiring manager.
The reason they have these calls is to make sure you truly meet that brief before they put you forward.
In that conversation, they will want to tell you more about the job to make sure you are interested.
They will want to check your salary expectations and make sure that is going to be the right call for you.
They also want to make sure you understand the role completely.
If they have identified that you might be missing an element of the requirements, they are going to hone in on that.
How to Prepare (Without Overdoing It)
When it comes to your preparation, you do not need to go full scale competency interview style.
There is no harm if you do, but it is not the right time to showcase all of your deep technical experience.
This is simply a check to see if you meet the brief, yes or no.
- Review Your Documents: Make sure you understand the exact CV you submitted so you are clear on your own pitch.
- Know the Job Description: Have everything in one place so you can talk actively to the role.
- Identify Your Gaps: Consider what your gaps are so you know exactly how to address them.
When they ask about your experience with a certain industry or technology, you will be ready.
You can then have a conversation around how your transferable skills make you really excited for this opportunity.
Use the Recruiter as a Safe Space
This is your opportunity to ask for more information and gain clarity about the role.
The recruiters really are the safe space here.
If you are worried about how a question could come across, they are equally worried you will ask it to the hiring manager.
It is better for them to tell you exactly how it is before you go down that road.
Once they have explained the role, take a moment to think it through.
If you spot any red flags, are curious about logistics, or want to know about the application process, just ask.
This is a conversation, not an interview.
They would rather give you that information so you are prepared whenever you meet the hiring manager.
Navigating the Salary Question
The next thing they usually want to discuss is salary.
You will have submitted a salary expectation when you did the job application.
That might be within range, outside the range, or below the range.
Most of the time you will not know, but that recruiter will know.
If you have gone above their budget, they might want to talk you down and check if you are flexible.
They might just want to double check that your salary expectation matches what you put on the application form.
Your primary goal right now is to get an interview.
I would never want you to lowball yourself to a salary you would never accept.
However, instead of pushing for the absolute top range of what you ideally want to earn, try to aim for the mid range.
That might sound crazy to you, but there is a strategic reason for it.
Once you have blown their socks off in the formal interviews, they will want to offer you the job.
At that point, you have more leverage to say you have learned about extra leadership responsibilities or new elements of the role.
You then have more ammunition to say you are actually worth more.
You can negotiate that down the line, so do not rule yourself out of the process too early.
Managing the Outcome
Finally, you have to bear in mind that you are speaking to a recruiter.
They might decide you are not the right fit based on your salary expectations or a core skill gap.
That cannot be helped, and you would never have gone forward if that was the case anyway.
What happens next in the background is that the recruiter sends a batch of CVs to the hiring manager.
Most of you will be familiar with that process as you’ve been the hiring managers before.
That hiring manager will either say that you did not meet the brief, or they will select a few to interview.
Nothing you could have done differently in your screening call would have changed that selection process.
A lot of people overanalyse and think they should have said something differently.
Actually, more often than not, it is a breakdown in communication between the hiring manager and the recruiter.
If you get an outcome you are disappointed in, do not dwell on what you could have done differently.
Follow this process again and hope the recruiter and hiring manager are more closely connected next time.
If you have tailored your CV in the right way, they will be impressed and want to meet you.
Don’t Stress…good luck! 🤞
Do not stress about this first interview.
Just do the best you can and do not overplan for it.
For now, this is just a chat.
Enjoy the conversation, get to know the role, and hopefully you will progress to the next stage.
Good luck with your job searches this week, and if you’d like to learn how I can help you further, Book a free, no-obligation 30-minute consultation with me and tell me your story.
Let’s see if I can help you shift the dial and secure your new career.
