You are in the market for a new career opportunity and are searching job boards, working with a recruiter and navigating your personal and professional networks. Applicants working with recruiters or leveraging a referral reduce their job search time, begin their position quicker and have greater job satisfaction. By being tactical in your job search, you find a job opening, read the description and are sure this position is the perfect fit. You apply and the waiting games begins. Then the phone rings and you find out you have been scheduled for an in-person interview. Statistically, only 2% of total applicants will get a face to face interview so this is already a big feat. However, the impression you make once you arrive will determine if you move along to the next phase in the hiring process. Here are a few tips to make sure you put your best foot forward at your next interview:

Dress to Impress 

No matter what position you may be interviewing for it is imperative to dress your best. Although many companies have adopted a more casual dress code, when going in for an interview overdressing is always your safest bet. We recommend interviewees wear a business suit or dress in a neutral color. Make sure your clothes are pressed, hair is groomed, you are not wearing heavy cologne/perfume or excessive jewelry and you will be one step closer to a job offer.

Be Timely 

Being timely for your interview is critical. There is no quicker way to get crossed off the candidates list then to be late, as this is your first impression to a future employer. Showing up late sends signals to the interviewer that you have poor time management and are unlikely to show up to the office on time once you start the job. Particularly within the Pharmaceutical and Biotech industry, punctuality is an attribute any current or potential employee must possess. Since there is constant communication with health authorities such as the FDA, employees must adhere to strict timelines in order to successfully complete a project. To ensure you arrive on time be sure to account for traffic and parking the day of. Just as important, be sure not to go in too early. We recommend only going into the interview location 15 minutes prior to the interview so you have time to check-in and get to the right place without disrupting your interviewer’s schedule. When you arrive greet your interviewer with a smile and firm handshake to make a positive first impression.

Don’t Forget your Resume 

When preparing, be sure you have all the necessary documentation you need for your interview. For all interviews, be sure to bring several copies of your resume, a notebook and pen. By doing so you are prepared to hand out resumes to everyone involved in the interview process and ready to take notes throughout. Dependent on the role you may be interviewing for there are many other items you may need to bring such as: your published research and articles, a brag book, references, sales numbers, business plans, or examples of past work. When you are compiling the documents you plan on sharing during the interview, you should always be mindful of confidentiality of previous employers. We also recommend bringing a bottle of water as you will be doing a lot of talking. Our recruiters will be happy to go over which items to bring with you to each interview.

Do Your Research

Failure to research the company, position and interviewers is the easiest way to take yourself out of the running for a position. Doing the prep-work is a great way to show interviewers you are not only interested in the role but will be a successful and worthwhile placement. Before your interview take some time to review the company’s website, focusing on their products, pipeline and press releases. Next, use LinkedIn to your advantage and review the background of your interviewers prior to the day of the interview. In start-ups and small pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies you will typically be interviewed by the CEO and other department heads as opposed to HR personnel and scientists as you would in a larger company. Be prepared to speak to not only the functions of your role but how you will help other departments to ensure the company’s success. If you are working with a recruiter use them as a resource and look to them for guidance.

When working with a PharmaOut recruiter we aim to make sure you put your best foot forward. Prior to your phone screen or after an in person interview we are happy to discuss a company’s products, background and answer any questions you may have.

Come with Questions

Another preparation step candidates should take before every interview is to prepare a set of questions to ask the interviewers. Questions can be about: the company and long term objectives, current and upcoming products, the position and the interviewers themselves. Asking questions shows your interest in the role and can create a more natural dialog for the interview.  Most interviews end with some time to ask questions, so make sure you have some prepared. While many may have already been answered you can always ask about career development, how long people have been at the company, culture, the interview process and next steps.

Send a Thank You Note

Once the interview is over there is still one final important step, sending a thank you follow up. Take some time post-interview to think about everything that was discussed and compile your thoughts. To express your further interest in the position be sure to send a thank you email within 24 hours to the hiring manager and team. This is a great way for candidates to leave one final impression on the interviewers. Be thoughtful in your note, including thanking them for their time and recapping why you feel you are the best candidate for the role. This is also a great opportunity to include anything you may have forgotten to mention or new thoughts that arose after your discussion.

Here at PharmaOut we help our candidates carefully prepare for each interview and follow them every step of the way. If you are interested in working with us please submit your resume here and check out our current job openings here. 

We look forward to you joining the PharmaOut family! 

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