15 Top Tips From a Recruiter

We asked Lindauer Senior Consultant Terri Rutter for her top tips on nailing the job interview and here is what she told us:

1. Basics matter: Be on time, be prepared for the conversation, don’t eat or drink or check email. Pay attention and stay focused.
2. Make a great first impression. You only get one chance. Wear a suit.
3. Do not talk more than 50% of the time. It is perfectly fine to say, “Did I answer your question?” and let the interviewer tell you if they want to hear more. 
4. Don’t try too hard to impress. This signals an ego or lack of discretion.
5. Do not use “jargon.” This will demonstrate a lack of understanding of the new job’s audience.
6. Talk about your knowledge/connection/passion for the subject area or service line for which you’ll be raising money. It could be the thing that sets you apart from other qualified candidates.
7. Present a story about collaboration. Hiring managers want to hear how well you work with others. 
8. Attribute the role you played as an individual.  It is important to portray yourself as a strong individual contributor as well as a strong team player.
9. Know the hiring organization. Go into interviews prepared and armed with questions that go beyond the information on the organization’s website. Do your research.
10. Tell a great story. Make it short and sweet, but more than just a few seconds. After all, the hiring manager is testing you to see how well you tell a story because if you are hired, you will be telling their story.
11. Know your numbers. Be prepared to answer questions about your metrics. How many visits you go on in a month, how many proposals you make in a month, how much you raise in a year, etc.
12. Avoid negativity. Don’t throw other organizations, peers, or previous leadership under the bus.
13. Explain short stints. Have a thoughtful answer prepared. Be as positive as possible. Say what impact you made while there, what you learned, and what you would do differently moving forward.
14. Be thankful. Always send thank you emails or handwritten notes. Send a follow-up, typo-free “thank you” that day or before noon the next.
15. References. Know what they will and will not say about you.