Placing our handpicked candidates is always an exciting moment for the Aldrich & Co team – every time we find someone a new role, we know exactly how much hard work has gone into their recruitment success.

To help you increase your chances of getting hired, we’re publishing a three-part series on navigating recruitment, from surviving the interview to what to do once you’ve got the job offer.

Part one tackles how to prepare for an interview. We’ve organised these tips into levels of seniority so that you can know what to expect, wherever you are in your career.

Part 2: How to prepare for a remote interview

Part 3: How to accept a job offer

Here’s our Aldrich & Co method to nail those first impressions:

1.

Make your interview your top priority

The recruitment process can run from three to ten interviews, and each one might be anywhere from half an hour ‘getting-to-know-you’ calls to two-hour case study sessions.

However long the process is, make sure these interviews are always at the front of your mind.

• Early-career: Plug your interviews into your calendar as soon as you hear about them. Then work backwards – in the days that precede your interview, write into your plan a few hours of prep time.

• Mid-career: If you already have a job, your interviewer might schedule a remote interview. Find a place where you won’t be disturbed. Arrive ten minutes early and set yourself up. Treat it like an in-person interview: make sure you have your CV and any other documents you sent to them at hand.

• Established: Your interviewers will be busy CEOs, and syncing schedules might make the process run into months. Prioritise interviews as career goals in your calendar, and leave enough time between other commitments, so you don’t feel rushed.

2.

Always be engaged and enthusiastic

Don’t lose steam.

Each interview might be led by a different member of the team, so show them why you came to them so highly recommended.

• Early-career: Without much experience behind you, interviewers might want to ask you about your industry knowledge. Leverage your education: what projects can you use to showcase your suitability for the role and willingness to learn?

• Mid-career: Work on your communication. You’re likely to be a specialist in your field, so expect interviewers to test your skills. Don’t be afraid to be grilled: this is what they’ll do to everyone else. The fact you are getting more interviews means you are heading in the right direction.

• Established: Yes, interviews are a big commitment, and a drain on time you don’t have. To stay motivated, read the company’s recent press, and consider the many ways in which this role could challenge you beyond your current position.

3.

Do your homework on the company

Much is said about interviewing your employer, and we think this should start well before the interview!

Read up on the company, its competitors, the team and the industry.

• Early-career: Interviewers want to see if your personality matches the company culture, so understand how the organisation runs ahead of the interview. Follow them on social media. Think about which of your skills and attributes complement their vision.

• Mid-career: The interviewer may want to understand why you want to move from your current role. Show them where you see industry shifts and use positive, informed language to explain what motivates you to switch roles.

• Established: You might already know your interviewers. Avoid complacency and focus on results rather than friendships, to ensure that they know you will always be an objective steer.

Part 2: How to prepare for a remote interview

Part 3: How to accept a job offer

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Have you got an upcoming interview and need help to prepare for it?

Aldrich & Co offers executive coaching wherever you are in your career. We’ll give you the confidence to succeed and the strategy to get ahead.