If you’re interviewing for a job, make sure you don’t do any of the below. If you’re hiring for a job, make sure they do 100% of the below. Here are the truly, non-negotiable things in the interview:
- Don’t ever be late
- This is obvious and first impression. 15 minutes early to the interview is considered on time. Anyone cutting it closer I don’t consider on time. Remember this.
- Be Prepared – Dressed Professionally, Copies of Resume, and Questions
- If someone doesn’ bring me a copy of their resume, I will walk them out the door. This is a sign of respect. If someone is in a t-shirt, even if your industry is casual, they aren’t showing you the respect they should be. Walk them out and tell them they weren’t dressed appropriately. Similarly, if they don’t take the time to print their resume so I can take notes on it or give the team copies, they won’t take the time to do other things like that in the sales cycle. Walk them out and tell them why.
- Know your sales numbers front to back
- If you’re interviewing someone and are wishy washy about their sales numbers, they are either lying to you for some reason, or they don’t care enough to know. Don’t hire them.
- Always send a follow-up thank you email
- If you don’t send up a follow-up email to everyone you met with, you shouldn’t get the job. The people interviewing you took their time to meet with you, and you don’t want to burn a bridge even if you don’t want a job in the future. Send them a thank you note and make it personalized.
- Firm handshake
- This is really old school, but if I shake someone’s hand and it’s a wet noodle, they don’t have the character to even fake a strong handshake or try. This will translate to their work. Don’t hire.
- Ask for the job
- If you don’t close them in the interview, how can they expect you to close a deal? You have to show them your skills here in the interview. This is critical and is being lost in todays new age. I literally got a shot at a job that paid me twice as much as I was making previously that I was completely unqualified for because I closed hard. Don’t miss this step. If you don’t know how to ask for the job, you can download for free a few example closes here.
- Don’t ever speak poorly about anyone
- If I hear anyone talk poorly about an individual in the industry, even someone we mutually know and I don’t enjoy, I never want to hear this in an interview, it means they will talk openly poorly about anyone when given the opportunity. If you’re leaving a past position because of a toxic work environment or truly terrible boss, the professional way of saying that is something along the lines of “the culture didn’t fit the values I uphold so I’m looking for a new opportunity” or “I’ve learned a lot in my current role but I am no longer growing and looking for a new position to challenge myself further.”
- If something feels wrong in your gut, don’t hire them
- This one is important. Sometimes you interview someone who was prepared, on time, closed hard, is connected to people you like, and the team liked them, but if something doesn’t feel right in your gut, don’t hire them. As a Sales Manager, this is tough because everything you do is quantifiable, but you have to listen to your gut and how you feel on this one, in my experience it is always right.