“A lot of the process really is the luck of the draw. A place like Google gets far more excellent applicants than there are available roles to fill, which means that the process knowingly discards a lot of really fantastic folks. Much of it will come down to the people selected to interview you and the personal chemistry you happen to strike with them. Don’t beat yourself up if things don’t work out; I failed my first several Google interviews decades ago!”
David E. Weekly, VP at The Capital One Lab (ex-Google, Meta) (source)
After reviewing and short-listing CVs, most businesses will start their hiring process with a 30-45 minute intro call. Their key purpose is to share general information about the role and the company. But they’ll also be looking to find out more about you, the projects you’ve worked on and what opportunities you’re looking for next.
It’s easy to get complacent and not prepare as, on paper, this is the easiest interview to pass. But do so at your peril, as this is your chance to make a great first impression.
So, here’s how to best prepare for your intro call:
“Think about what your key motivations are and also what is driving you to look for a new role. If there are key challenges you face currently or things you really want from a new role or working environment, then ask about these. Genuine questions are much better than transparent conversation fillers.”
Glen Willis, Product Team Manager at Few&Far