You’ve made it through a phone screen with a recruiter, an aptitude
test, a personality assessment, a Skype call with HR and one
face-to-face interview. Now, you’ve been invited for an all-day onsite
interview. This is great news, you’re still in the running. Although,
you need to recognize that full-day interviews are not a sprint, they
are a marathon! Companies use a full-day onsite interview as a final
step – it’s a chance for a wide variety of people to assess and vet
whether you are the right fit. So you need to be on your game from start
to finish.
The prospect of selling yourself for hours and hours is
daunting. Here’s a list of tips you can employ before, during and after
the interview to ensure you perform your best.
BEFORE the interview
Request the interview format and schedule - You’ll meet with people
from a variety of departments and levels within the organization. Start
thinking now about how your future role interacts with these people and
put together a few questions. If you get names, check them out on
LinkedIn. Be flexible – schedules change frequently, so who you thought
you were going to meet is subject to change.
Get rested and fueled – You’ll be nervous, and sleep may be
difficult. Yet, a decent sleep before a long day will serve you well.
Eat before the day starts so you can focus. Additionally, bring a quick,
easy to consume snack. If you feel yourself start to drag or if you
get hungry – a quick bite between interviews can help keep you on going.
Dress comfortably – If your lucky interview shirt, is best suited for
July and you’re interviewing in February – ditch it. You can handle
being chilly for a short 45-minute interview, but you need to be
physically at ease when you’ve got interview, after interview.
Schedule a babysitter/caregiver – Get someone to help you take care
of the personal. You don’t want to arrive late, because you had to
handle a minor home crisis. Moreover, interviews often go long – you
don’t want to worry about how the kids are getting home from school.
Congratulate yourself on making it this far – A company only offers
this much employee time, if they are truly interested in you.
DURING the interview
Act as if every interviewer has the final say - Open the interview
with a firm handshake and a confident smile. Close each interview by
letting the interviewer know you want the job and why you should have
it. Be as energetic and engaging in the final interview as you were in
the first.
Focus on the here and now – It’s too late to re-word an answer from
an earlier interview. And you don’t know what’s going to happen later in
the day. Concentrate on your current interview.
Rinse and repeat – It’s ok to tell the same story to multiple
interviewers. Consistency is valued. Know your stories well. You’ll
want to vary your responses so that they fully answer the questions
asked.
Refresh as needed – Head to the restroom between a couple (not all,
they’ll think you’re weird) interviews. Take a few moments for a pep
talk, splash water in your face, comb your hair – it will help you begin
each interview anew.
Congratulate yourself on making it this far – Lots of people are
taking time out of their busy day to meet you. They clearly think you
have something to offer.
AFTER the interview
Send thank you notes – Get each interviewer’s contact info. There are
often changes between the itinerary and who you actually meet.
Congratulate yourself on making it this far – It was a long, long day, but you survived!
A full day of interviews is physically and mentally draining. These
tips will help you outlast even the longest day of interviews.
Good luck!
