Interview tips from an expert

During my initial phone call with Marcus Thomas, the interviewer (now my colleague) commented how weird it was to interview a recruiter. And it’s true. When you interview people for a living, being on the other side of it is an experience. I know what to do to impress a recruiter (i.e., myself) and what will automatically put someone in the “not hired” pile. Given this knowledge, I wanted to share three tips that I’ve gained from being on both sides of the interview aisle: 

• Do your research: I strongly recommend checking out not only the company website, but Glassdoor and other reviews. When I was applying, I used my LinkedIn skills to look at other people on my team to see what the average tenure looked like. I also spent some time (a lot actually) creeping around the Marcus Thomas website and reading online reviews of the company. It’s always impressive when a candidate does their research and asks thoughtful questions during the initial interview. 
• Talk about the bad times too: Everyone can tell success stories, but what about a time when something didn’t go as planned? I love hearing about ways candidates have made lemonade out of lemons. At Marcus Thomas, accountability is one of our core values. Owning your mistakes and sharing what you’ve learned (and even what you had to unlearn) is a way to show off your adaptability, something that’s necessary in agency life. I’ve had candidates decline offers, interviewees no-show and more. The lessons I’ve learned from my recruiting failures are what made me a way-better recruiter in the long run. 
• Remember, you are interviewing us too: When I made the decision to join Marcus Thomas, it wasn’t just about salary. I needed to know that the company was a place where I would be able to grow both personally and professionally. I wanted to dig deep and really know the culture, work environment and team structure. Company happy hours are cool and all, but will my opinions be heard? Does this company invest in the professional development of its employees? What is the work/life balance? Hearing that Marcus Thomas has a substantial wellness plan (including unlimited PTO, wellness reimbursements, affinity groups and student loan repayment) included in its benefits package was a huge sign that I was joining a company that cares about its employees. 

Changing jobs is never easy, and with so many applicants, one simple misstep can keep you from your dream job. I’m beyond thrilled to have found my dream organization, and hopefully, with these tips, you’ll be posting a job update on LinkedIn soon.