The amount of preparation needed going into an interview is 10X-20X more than the actual interview time. If you are going to have 6-8 hours of interviews, expect to prepare 100+ hours (2-4 weeks).

Landing a job (or your dream job) is half about what you have done before and half about what you “can” do for that company and team if you take the job. It’s about having a PoV, sharing your PoV, and bringing to light only what matters (vs everything you have done in your life before).

Having interviewed over 1000+ candidates (maybe closer to 2000-3000) and built direct teams of 500+ in size over my life at McKinsey and Google (in various roles and geographies), below is a list of specific actions people should take in advance of any discussions !

A. If you did NOT get paid at all, why would you still do this job ? What’s so interesting about the role and company ?

B. Prepare for the discussions using network of people who know the company, read reports, and talk to customers and users and get insights. Summarize your PoV on product and services, problems, role specific needs, and insights from customers. Develop your 2 page PoV on the company with stats and insights.

C. List the 3-4 previous projects that are relevant to this role and what you did specifically in those projects. Make it 1 minute summaries max !

D. Top 5 action list when in role: If you were already in the role doing the job, what types of challenges you may face and what is your ongoing solution

E. Have a POV on mission and culture : What specifically about the company or culture is interesting to you? (Be specific so it shows that you have studied the annual report, competitors, market trend, mission and make it personal to you)

F. If you put yourself in the shoes of the interviewers (let’s assume it’s 5-7) for that role, and listed the 3-5 things each one will care about one can get to the core set of 30 questions that will likely get asked (maybe on the product, operating style, company, etc). Half of those questions are likely going to come in some way shape or form. This means you can practice short, focused responses in advance. One can draw out the nuances and insights. Allows you to read into the more nuanced questions the interviewer is asking or trying to ask !

This is what you do before you have any discussions with the interviewers

Additional posts coming

A. Having an engaging interview/discussion !

B. What one should NOT do in an interview?

C. What will make a manager want to hire you before you exit the interview?

D. The drop dead fool proof way to land the job (assuming you have an interview scheduled)

E. Changing jobs and careers - what not to do ?

…. And many others

Thanks

Abhi