Before and after the job interview – what really matters for preparation

Much is written about the job interview itself – which questions come up, how to answer, what to wear. But what is equally important is the interview preparation, meaning what happens before and after, as these two phases often determine how the conversation goes and what ultimately comes of it.

Truly understanding the company

Anyone who enters the conversation without knowing what the company actually does, which markets it serves and where it currently stands will leave a weak first impression – no matter how good the technical answers are afterwards. The website is a starting point. But what can be found beyond that is usually more interesting.

Recent press releases, trade fair appearances, investments, restructurings. The company's LinkedIn page often shows what is currently being worked on internally – where the latest hires came from, which topics are being communicated, where the focus lies. Anyone who has someone in their own network who works or has worked there should make use of that. A ten-minute phone call sometimes provides more insight than two hours of research.

For those who want to dig deeper: Google News delivers current reports about the company. Northdata provides insight into company key figures and developments. And AI tools can also help to quickly gain an initial overview.

And don't forget: the person you'll be speaking with. A quick look at the LinkedIn profile of your interviewer makes the first few minutes of the conversation noticeably more relaxed. What is their background, how long have they been with the company, is there perhaps a shared previous employer, a common degree programme, a similar industry experience?

Particularly in a specialised market like process engineering and filtration, good preparation is something that stands out. Anyone who shows they have genuinely engaged with a company – not just superficially – signals real interest.

Having your own CV fresh in your mind again

It sounds trivial, but it isn't. Anyone who hasn't picked up their own CV for a long time can quickly stumble when asked about a particular position. What exactly was the role back then? Why the change? What was the defining project?

It is worth going through each position calmly the evening before – but not memorising it. What was the core of the role, what went well, where did you grow, what was difficult? Anyone who can answer this fluently and honestly comes across as prepared – because they are.

Interview preparation – the unspectacular things

Check the route, know the address, arrive ten minutes early rather than rushing through the door. Anyone who sits relaxed before the appointment enters the conversation more at ease. For video calls, test the technology, lighting and background the day before – not five minutes beforehand. There are few things more uncomfortable than realising during the connection setup that the microphone isn't working.

And: prepare your own questions. Anyone who asks what the onboarding really looks like, which topics will occupy the team over the next twelve months, and how success in the role is measured shows that they want to understand the details.

We have compiled a large collection of example questions in our blog article Preparing for a job interview – questions, tips and what companies really want to know.

After the interview, the underestimated part begins

The most common mistake after an interview is simply waiting. Understandable – but there are a few things that can still actively influence the process afterwards without coming across as pushy. A short message a few hours later, by email or LinkedIn, is rare and therefore stands out. Three sentences are enough: thanks for the time, a specific reference to something that particularly stuck from the conversation, and if appropriate, a note that you are looking forward to the next steps. Two minutes of effort, a professional impression.

Reflecting briefly on your own conversation on the same day is worthwhile. Where were you strong, where did you hesitate, what would you say differently? Anyone who reviews these notes across several applications learns to tell their own story better.

If you don't hear anything after the agreed timeframe, you are welcome to follow up. A friendly, brief enquiry is not pushing. In day-to-day business on the company side, responses unfortunately sometimes get overlooked. A polite message gives the other party the opportunity to catch up.

A rejection is not a judgement

A rejection is unpleasant, but it rarely says what you read into it in the first moment. Sometimes someone else was simply a better fit for the role – not better in a professional sense, but in terms of a specific profile that was being sought. Sometimes the position changed internally. Sometimes it was a gut feeling that had nothing to do with the quality of the conversation. Anyone who still wants to understand the reasons is welcome to ask for feedback. Not every company provides it – but those who ask sometimes receive surprisingly honest responses. And even a single sentence can make a difference in the next interview.

What many forget: asking about the timeline

An insight from our daily work in recruitment consultancy that is rarely written about anywhere: most applicants leave an interview without knowing when they will receive a response. And that is precisely what later causes uncertainty, overthinking and – in the worst case – poorly timed follow-ups.

A single question at the end of the interview changes this: "What do the next steps look like from your perspective, and by when can I expect to hear back?" Anyone who receives a concrete answer – "we will get back to you within the next ten days" – can then wait calmly. Anyone who doesn't receive one knows that too – and can adjust accordingly.

In closing

The conversation itself is important, no question. But anyone who takes the time to truly prepare and afterwards doesn't simply wait but stays proactive and composed has a real advantage.

If you are currently preparing for a specific interview or would like to put a rejection into perspective, feel free to contact us directly. That is exactly what we are here for.

Connectima GmbH – spezialisierte Personalberatung für Verfahrenstechnik & Filtration