Thermoforming Report

A Practical Masterclass

Early in Siena Group’s history, I created candidate guides to assist in what is arguably the most important skill in the entire hiring process: interviewing. The guides have always been well-received and praised for both their content and clarity.

➡️These guides aren't revolutionary – they're simply a well thought-out approach that serves as helpful reminders. 
You can download them here: Telephone/Video Interview Guide & Onsite Interview Guide.]⬅️

With the rise of video interviews (typically via Teams), I’m often asked to “participate” – listen in as a silent partner – by several clients. As a result, I’ve been able to hear how the interviews progress, interpret body language, and provide my professional opinion during debriefs.

With that context, I’ve seen firsthand that just like most things in life, when it comes to interviews, the 80/20 rule applies. In my professional opinion, 80% of candidates actually stink at interviewing! It is very unfortunate when talented and successful candidates do not move forward due to a poor performance in their interview.

Interviewing is a skill – and like any skill, it can be learned and mastered through practice! As a professional recruiter who has sat in on hundreds of interviews, allow me to take you to school and share some much-needed secrets!

Interviewing 101

SECRET #1: Be Prepared!

Yep. Easy, right? Well, not so much! 

Over the years – and especially more recently – I’ve noticed that most candidates define “preparation” as spending time learning about the company and the interviewer. While that’s a must, it is ONLY the beginning of what true interview prep looks like.

Think of company research as your pre-reading assignment. Now it’s time for the real work: preparing your story – and how to tell it! Knowing your story, owning your accomplishments, and striking the right tone when talking about them is where the real preparation (and the real payoff) happens.

Most people struggle to ‘toot their own horn.’  And those who don’t? They sometimes go full volume and play the whole band – coming off as arrogant or cocky. The key is balance.  Investing time here is some of the smartest preparation you can do. 

Start by identifying your ‘hero stories’ – those times in your career where you overcame challenges and delivered significant results. Then, tune and adjust each story to be powerful… and succinct. You don’t want to spend 20 minutes on a single story! Wouldn’t it be smarter to share four great hero stories instead of just one? Keep each one tight – 2-5 minutes each – and you’ll be ready to deliver them with impact!

Interviewing 102

SECRET #2: Video Calls: Set the Stage! 

Preparation also means making sure you’re set up – both technically and spatially. This is still entry level material because it’s so basic… but you’d be surprised how often candidates miss the mark here! Honestly, at least half of the interviews I observe would barely get a passing grade in this part of the course!

On the technical side, make sure everything works: your internet connection, computer, mic, camera, phone – whatever you’re using. The best way to do this? Take your setup for a test run! This should be an easy ‘A’, but tech gremlins are real. So, invest the time before the interview: log in early and troubleshoot anything that might go awry.

Preparing spatially means understanding your surroundings. First off – no one wants to look up your nose! If your camera (usually via phone or laptop) is pointed upward, then the perspective of the interviewer is… less than ideal. The solution is simple: position your camera at eye-level.  

Additionally, watch your background. Visual distractions – like a bright window behind you, cluttered walls, and yes, even your car – can pull focus away from you. It doesn’t have to be sterile, just clean and professional. Think about the view from the other side. Be discerning and intentional with where you set up. If all else fails, use the blur feature or virtual background built into most video platforms – they exist for a reason!

Interviewing 201

SECRET #3: Make it Tight. Make it Count.  

Do not ramble! This should be a lesson learned in Interviewing 101, but it’s the one that’s often overlooked. The biggest pitfall? The dreaded “Tell me about yourself” question! You can easily fall into the trap of going way too far down the hole into long-winded stories full of irrelevant details. 

That’s where your ’30-second elevator speech’ comes in. You’ve probably heard of it – but do you have one? Really? You must have a crisp, practiced version ready to go. The answer to the Tell Me About Yourself question is simply an expanded version of your elevator pitch. Write it down, practice it, tune it, adjust it – and when it’s done, it should succinctly and powerfully describe who you are and what you are about in no more than 2 minutes! 

And please, please do not start at “the beginning!” While your early career – and sometimes even your upbringing – is most definitely important and informative, it’s critical to focus on who you are today, highlighting your recent successes, hard-earned lessons, and the direction you’re heading. Lead with that, and you’ll command attention!

Interviewing 202

SECRET #4: Questions are YOUR Secret Weapon! 

You’ve nailed your 30-second elevator speech memorized, prepped your 2-minute ‘tell me about yourself’ version, and practiced your ‘hero stories’ out loud. Now it’s time to flip the script – and ask some questions of your own! 

Questions are your way of interviewing the Hiring Manager and, in parallel, the company. Ignoring this step means missing out on a huge opportunity to learn more about the role, the need, the company, the culture, and more. Use your prep work on the company and Hiring Manager as a springboard for these questions.  Ask thoughtful, relevant questions that show you’re not only informed – but truly interested!

You’ll find great examples in the interview guides above. And since this is just an entry-level class, stay tuned – our senior-level courses will reveal more ‘secrets’ to converting standard questions into ‘offer-winning’ questions!

We’ve reached the end of this class session — and you’ve already picked up some of the best-kept secrets in interviewing. But this was just the freshman and sophomore curriculum. Want to level up?

The upperclassman material — the advanced techniques, the offer-closing moves, and the secrets that separate good from great — are coming in the next blog post dropping at the end of the month. Stay tuned… class will be back in session soon!

As your Thermoforming Talent Partner, we represent clients AND candidates! We’re here to help in any and every way possible! We provide hiring strategies, priority candidate searches, job searches, client & candidate introductions, interview tips, résumé facelifts, resignation strategies, and much much more. LET’S STRENGTHEN YOUR SEARCH!