Pre-interview Research

Knowledge of the company

Thorough preparation is the foundation of confidence. Before presenting yourself to the employer, it is imperative to do a deep dive into the corporate reality of the organization.

A cursory reading of the website's home page is not enough; an audit of its digital and business identity is required.

The candidate must examine the key products or services, understand the business model, and become familiar with the stated mission and values.

An effective strategy is to look for recent news stories in business press or press releases to identify recent milestones, such as mergers, product launches or market expansions.

If, for example, a logistics company has just announced an investment in electric fleets, an operations candidate should be on the lookout to ask intelligent questions about how this will affect the supply chain.

This level of detail demonstrates a genuine interest and analytical ability above and beyond that of the average candidate who is just looking for "a job."

Interviewer research

Knowing in advance who will be on the other side of the table gives a considerable tactical advantage.

The list of people who will be participating in the interview and their specific job titles should be requested from the HR contact.

With these names, the next step is to conduct a professional search on platforms such as LinkedIn to understand their background, current responsibilities and professional interests.

The goal is to find points of connection or topics of conversation that may come up naturally ("icebreakers").

If we discover that the prospective boss has recently published an article on artificial intelligence in banking, the candidate can read it and prepare a complimentary comment or technical question about it.

This transforms the questioning into a conversation between professionals and helps build "rapport" or attunement quickly, showing that homework has been done.

Logistics and details

Excellence in execution begins with logistics.

On the day of the interview, there can be no room for error in punctuality or presentation.

It is recommended to conduct a mock commute the day before at the same time as the appointment to assess actual traffic, parking options or frequency of public transportation, ensuring you arrive 15 minutes early.

Arriving at the building in good time allows you to acclimatize, go to the restroom to check your attire and calm your nerves before announcing yourself at the reception desk.

As for clothing, if in doubt about the dress code, it is best to ask the recruiter directly or to be cautiously formal.

It is better to err on the side of elegance in