How to Prepare for a Business Interview
An interview with you isn’t just for you to talk about your business, rather use the opportunity to make sure your business will remain in the memories of those that listened long after the conversation.
Whether you’re on a business News, a podcast, or a platform like Inside Success TV that aims for a documentary feel, preparation sets you apart from just another “interviewee.” The most impactful interviews are never an accidental occurrence.
They are planned for because the entrepreneurs did the work to prepare their message, organize their points and even know who they were talking to.
So, what do you do to have a successful business interview? Let’s go through these one by one:
Why Preparation Matters Before Every Business Interview
Lots of entrepreneurs think that because they “know their business”, they are automatically ready for an interview.
Well, no.
Knowing your business is one thing; talking articulately about your business and story is another. You aren’t just answering for your company in an interview, you are advocating for yourself. You’re talking about your own experiences, your leadership skills and how to communicate ideas for a wider audience.
Not only that, you will also be talking on a media platform (and depending on which platform), you will most likely need to adjust to the style of that business media.
Once you are prepared, you’ll definitely walk away from the interview feeling confident knowing you’ve left the audience with the right and valuable information.
How to Prepare Your Founder Story
When you have business interviews, at some point, almost everyone is going to ask you about your journey. Prepare for your interviews by taking time to know what stories you want people to remember.
Those stories could be anything like:
- What inspired you to start your company.
- A major challenge you’ve successfully tackled.
- A particular failure that has dramatically altered your leadership.
- A bit of advice every entrepreneur must know.
- Dreams which are still driving your business forward.
It’s okay that you won’t perfectly recall these stories exactly how it happened. Instead, know the experiences behind them. The stories would come naturally because the experiences behind them were your unique path, making it more authentic, assured and more natural than anything rehearsed.
Know the Business Media Before You Get Interviewed
You will also need to note that not every business media outlet has the same agenda. Depending on their style, there are interviews designed for strategizing, there are interviews designed for exploring the path the individual behind the brand has taken. And in that case, audience types can differ.
For Inside Success TV, the audience is different because it is a platform interested in people’s stories, their lessons, their choices, the challenges in their life that have paved the successful paths to their business.
Knowing that from the start means you could prepare stories or answers that would come naturally for that platform rather than using the same communication style for every platform.
Some platforms are driven by stories, while some just want you to go into your business success, so not all platforms work the same way, knowing this piece of information beforehand will help you make the most of every interview you get featured in.
What Makes a Great Business Interview
If people remembers an interview it’s not because the interviewee gave perfect answers, but instead gave real answers. And at the heart of any effective business interview is the honest and simple conversation, helpful knowledge and relatable stories. Nobody will listen to a show-off entrepreneur who just lets people know only of their success.
Don’t try to wow the room with all what you have accomplished. Instead try to leave people with value. If your guests watches your interview and leaves feeling inspired or educated, then consider your interview a success.
How to Leave a Lasting Impression In an Interview
The last few minutes of your interview is usually what will most likely stick in people’s minds. So, when someone asks you, “Any final thoughts or messages?”, don’t just prattle until time’s up! Instead share what stuck with you from the very beginning, what piece of advice you can give your peers in the entrepreneurial world, or perhaps even a belief that continues to guide you today.
Your audience may not be able to recall the specific questions you answered during your conversation, but they’ll most definitely remember the stories you shared with them. This is why having the exact right answers is not equally as important, you just need to be real.
In short, the better prepared you are, the more likely your interview (in any form) is going to leave an impact – a good one – no matter the audience nor platform.
