For many candidates, interviewing on-site can be intimidating and overwhelming, while others can effortlessly handle them with ease. Regardless of which camp you fall into, there are a few basic things to consider when showing up for an on-site interview.

Come Prepared

It’s no surprise that you should always come prepared for any interview. For a preliminary phone screen, you may have done some quick research on the company’s website and glanced at the hiring manager’s LinkedIn profile. However, once you’re invited on-site, it’s important to take the time to prepare so you’re well-versed in the requirements for the role and how you can deliver. Make sure you:

• Ask the recruiter beforehand to provide a list of everyone you will be meeting with.
• Refresh your memory and review your notes from your first phone interview. 
• Review the job description again so you have a thorough understanding of the role and can proactively speak to your skillset that aligns with their needs.
• Have a list of questions about the company, team, and/or role that you’d like answered. Each interviewer will undoubtedly leave time in the end for Q&A, so be prepared with 3-5 questions of your own.
• Bring several copies of your resume as well as a notepad to take notes with. It’s difficult to remember each conversation, especially if you’re meeting with 5+ people. 

Do Your Research

Doing a bit of research beforehand will help you feel and sound more confident in conversation and will demonstrate your level of interest in the opportunity. While no one expects you to know everything about the company or products, it’s important to have a general understanding so you can explain how you can help the company succeed. Here are a few things I ask my candidates to dig into before interviewing onsite:

• Understand the products and/or services the company offers (review the company website)
• Learn about the history of the company (check out their About Us page on their website, read their press releases, do a quick Google search)
• Understand their mission, vision, and values (these are typically found on a company’s About Us page)
• Look into previous company leadership, particularly their C-staff and VPs as well as any notable directors or managers (many companies list their executives on their website; LinkedIn can also be helpful)
• Understand their work culture and how you will fit in (Glassdoor can be a great resource here)
• Have a baseline understanding of their main competitors and how they are differentiated (Google their products/services and competitors should pop up)
• Do some quick research on each person you’ll be meeting with and prepare a list of questions/talking points to cover (LinkedIn) 
• Understand where you fall salary-wise and come prepared with a realistic desired salary (Glassdoor)

Talk positively and confidently about yourself

Many people have trouble talking themselves up, but remember, this is your time to shine! Consider what impression you want to leave upon each person, and make sure you talk about yourself in that way. Are they looking for a team player? An independent thinker? Is someone highly creative or analytical? Make sure you give specific examples to demonstrate how you align with their needs and why they’d want to work with you.

I’m also amazed at how one of the most basic questions can stump so many people: Tell me about yourself.

Please remember this is not the time to go deep into your personal history—this question is related to your career. It’s always a great idea to have a three-minute elevator pitch to showcase your career path—something you prepare in advance that can be used for almost any interview you go on. You can even tailor it based on where you are interviewing or a particular requirement for the position. Make sure you remain clear and confident, as stumbling here can give an unhealthy impression of who you are to the employer. 

Here are a few points you want to ensure you hit on:

• How you entered the career path you are on now
• How your expertise and knowledge in this area has grown
• If you’ve changed career paths or have a gap, acknowledge it and briefly explain when and why
• Why this specific opportunity aligns with your skillset, including the growth you see for yourself in the role

Dress The Part

Before you show up on-site, do some research on the company culture (Glassdoor can be helpful here). On interview day, be sure to dress one step up from the rest of the company. So for example, if you know the company dresses fairly casually in jeans and t-shirts, you’ll feel like a fish out of water wearing a suit—consider nice pants (not jeans) and a collared shirt instead. The goal is to look polished and professional, and that you understand the value of making a good first impression. And remember, chewing gum and clothing with holes are never appropriate. 

Stay Positive

The next pitfall for many candidates relates to their previous employer(s). I can’t stress enough how important it is to remain positive. Even if your last employer was a nightmare, make sure you put a positive spin on the situation, emphasizing what you learned that you can apply toward future growth. You can keep it short and simple and then move on. 

Remember, you are being noticed from the moment you enter the building. Smile! Be pleasant with everyone you pass by. You are being evaluated by your level of professionalism, your body language, and your attitude, so make sure you remain approachable and positive throughout the process. And at the end of the day, remind yourself that you are selling yourself on the role as much as they are selling you on the company.

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Sciens is currently working diligently toward a new Dynamics 365 (D365) Finance & Operations, Customer Engagement, and Field Service implementation, replacing the existing legacy ERP system. WorQFlow and Sciens have partnered to support the project and to help build out Sciens’ internal D365 team.

What are the biggest challenges you are facing when trying to attract and secure talent in the Dynamics AX/D365 market?

“The Dynamics AX/365 job market in the Bay area has always been competitive, particularly over the past few years, and the Dynamics talent out there has had the power to choose just about any opportunity they like. Prior to engaging WorQFlow, Sciens spent countless hours browsing job sites, selecting potential candidates, and conducting phone screenings and face-to-face interviews, yet our efforts were still fortuitous. The process could easily take 4-6 weeks.”

How did WorQFlow stand out from other agencies you have worked with in the past?

“WorQFlow truly understands the request and provides what’s needed in record speed, which makes them stand out from other recruiting firms. There are recruiters that still do not know the differences between Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement and Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations solutions. WorQFlow hand-selects the best-fitting candidates from the start with no nonsense. By partnering with WorQFlow, the hiring process can be as quick as two weeks with candidates who are the best fit. The process doesn’t end after candidates are onboarded either; WorQFlow has a mandatory follow-up process with both the hiring manager and the candidate to continue to ensure it is the best fit.”

How has this relationship with WorQFlow benefited you with the D365 project?

“A transparent partnership is key to the success of any Dynamics 365 implementation project, whether working with Microsoft implementation partners or Dynamics recruiting firms. WorQFlow has the resources to provide marketing data, hiring trends, and candidate expectations. WorQFlow leverages its expertise to set expectations between the hiring manager and candidates, in order to shorten the hiring life cycle and ensure a smooth, easy process for both sides.”

WorQFlow Solutions is honored to be named one of the Fastest Growing US Staffing Firms of 2022 by the Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA). Over the past 6 years, we have had the extraordinary opportunity to work alongside exceptional companies and candidates that have allowed us to grow to this point.

This year, thousands of staffing firms submitted applications to be a part of this prestigious award. Thousands of applications were submitted across the United States, and WorQFlow Solutions ranked #20! In order to win the award, companies had to show a level of significant revenue growth over the last five years. The average compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for all of 2022’s Fastest Growing Staffing companies was 43.28%. WorQFlow had a CAGR of 73.70% which shows we have grown 30% faster than the majority of the companies that received the Fastest Growing award this year.

Thank you to all the individuals who have put their trust in us all these years. As we continue to grow, we will remain steadfast in our values of trust, transparency, collaboration, and delivery. We could not have done this without the continued trust and support of our clients, candidates, and the WorQFlow team. We have big dreams for the future and don’t plan on slowing down any time soon!