The design interview tips in this article do not cover the typical answers to this question. I go deeper into the mindset you need to bring to an interview in order to have a higher chance of success. I hope to give you an edge that will help you stand out from others who have also done all the standard preparation. My advice is based on 10 years working as a landscape architect and 1 year working as a team leader where I undertook interviews myself. There is a list of actions below for you to read and select based on what’s a good fit for you.
Visualise the role
You need to really understand the company you want to work for. Consider the following design interview tips.
- Get to know the company website really well including searching for company values and mission statements. Think about your own values and consider what bringing your values to the role would mean in your daily interactions. For more on identifying values check out my article on Changing Your Mindset.
- Seek out and talk to employees of the company to better understand the role and company culture. Can you get to know them through a networking event?
- Read the position description carefully and imagine yourself in the role doing a fantastic job of it. You could even go as far as writing down a story – “your life in the day of….” Think about how it feels, how you will communicate, and what aspects will give you joy/excitement/satisfaction. List the key core skills you would need to do a great job and prepare answers to questions which demonstrate your abilities in these areas.
Relationship Building
An interview is really part of a process where two or more people are getting to know each other and making a decision on whether they would like to continue that journey. Each party will be assessing if there is value in the relationship and if it is mutually beneficial, so I recommend treating it as such.
What is your process for getting to know a new friend? Think about that in an interview context. Of course, a level of professionalism and formality is required in an interview that would not be required in a friendship. That aside, finding a way to build a relationship with your potential employer, that helps bring out who you are, is helpful. By approaching it as a two-way meaningful conversation it will help you to relax. Remember this is two-sided. If you commit to the job, you will be spending a lot of time and energy there, so you want to make sure it’s right for you too.
Authenticity
The next of my design interview tips is to know who you are. You need to show your authentic self. People will hire you for who you are. If you are not willing to show that then you will not have an edge over other applicants. You have something to offer that no other person does just because you are you. Employers want more than the technical skills you bring. When you understand your unique value and are able to break down barriers to showing that to the world, then you are in a position to set yourself apart. Getting to know yourself is a long journey, but a great place to start is taking an online quiz such as these two free ones below.
Adopt a Helpful Mindset
Take Responsibility
It is so important that you are also clear on what your responsibility is in the interview process. You are there, both to understand the role better, to see if it is the right fit for you, and also, to help the interviewer understand who you are, whether you will fit in the team and whether you have the core skills to undertake the tasks required. From my experience team fit and mindset (showing a capacity for growth) are most important. You can read more about the importance of a Growth Mindset in your career in one of my previous articles. To help take responsibility you can take the following actions:
- Learn about a growth mindset. Link to articles above.
- Prepare questions which will help show your genuine interest in the company and understanding of your role in it.
- Think about what you can bring to the role over what the company can give you.
Curiosity
Being curious takes you outside your own head and into a state of empathy and interest in the world and the people around you.
From my own experience being interviewed, I know I tend to get nervous and this keeps me stuck in my head. I have thought things like “I need to perform” and “What if I say the wrong thing and don’t get the job”. If I had reframed that to thinking to: “I am curious to get to know the people that work for the company” “Which of my strengths is best aligned with the team?” “I wonder what the values are of the people interviewing me and how they bring these to work each day?” Hopefully you can see that these sorts of questions would have left me in a more open and carefree state. It would have enabled me to break down a barrier of fear of failure which leads me to the next point.
Relationship with Failure
We have been taught as a society that failure is bad. But what is failure and who defines if a particular action is a failed one? What is the opposite of failure? Is it success? Isn’t success defined differently by every single person based on their values, beliefs and what they want from life?
I challenge you to reframe failure. There is no such thing. You take steps each day to improve your skills. The steps that don’t get you immediate results, are the steps that you learn the most from. They, therefore, set you up better for taking the next step. Without challenge, we cannot grow. So consider going into your interview thinking of it as a learning experience. An experience that will help you better understand which step to take next.
Beyond Design Interview Tips
Persistence
If there is a particular position that you want then I believe it takes persistence to land that job. Put one foot after the next and keep going. I suggest you take it into your own hands and don’t wait for the perfect position description to come out as a job advert. You have the power to network, find the company you want to work for, to build relationships inside that company. If after doing that you still want to work for them, then keep going. Keep the relationship open and active and show them who you are in an authentic way. Touch base regularly and continue to show the value you bring. When a position becomes available you will be the first in line.
