Introduction
Interviews are a unique part of the professional battlefield. They are a place where unicorns lose every day, where people forget their own names for a split second, and where lives are changed. They’re like a poker game, where players often can’t get over the brutal blunders made during a bad beat. A lot of stars must align for interviews to go well on both sides.
Before joining TCM, I spent eight years in recruiting, with over six years focused specifically on cybersecurity. I coordinated hundreds of interviews every year. For each one, I devoted time creating a super informative prep email with tips and recommendations galore, connecting with the candidate to walk through the prep, debriefing with both the client and candidate – and then doing it all over again for each stage of the process. Fun fact: I prepared more interviews than meals in 2019.
One important truth to remember is that most of us won’t get the jobs we pursue. Comparing the success rate to Major League Baseball batting averages is a fair comparison, where a 30% hit rate could earn you a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Another thing to remember: most of the time, employers want you to be a great fit. They would love to end the hiring process and move forward with a rock solid candidate. You already have that advantage from the start, so it’s really about not losing points along the way and leaving them thinking, “I’d enjoy working with this person.”
There are many pitfalls and curveballs throughout the interview process. Some tactics that work well in one interview, may come across poorly in another. However, there are also plenty of impactful actions we can take to avoid these pitfalls as we go through the gauntlet of cybersecurity interviewing. Let’s dive in!
Make the Time to Prepare for the Interview
Abraham Lincoln once said: “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the ax.”
When people prepare for interviews, it shows. When they don’t, it is obvious, and it can be the single reason someone is eliminated from contention within the first five minutes of an interview. On the other side, if a recruiter calls you to discuss a role but you can tell they have not reviewed your resume, don’t seem to know much about the role, and can’t answer some of your questions – you’re unlikely to push forward with that option.
Of course we should all research the company, the industry, and the job description. This is the bare minimum.
But there is so much more valuable information up for grabs! Some other key areas to spend time researching and preparing ahead of your interview:
Research the Team Members
Use LinkedIn, ask for information from your recruiter or point of contact, and do some OSINT. They very likely did the same on you.
Look for connectors to your personal life, i.e. Military Veteran, parent, Star Wars, etc. You may not ever bring it up, but you’ve got it ready in your back pocket if the situation naturally arises.
Review what types of certifications or training they all have that could be good for small talk or questions.
Finally, see what types of tools or responsibilities they have listed on their profiles, which will often tell you more about what the role entails than the job description.
Read the Room
“Read the room” simply means “evaluate the mood and energy of the people around you and respond accordingly” (unofficial TCM definition). Are the people upbeat, quiet, engaged, distracted, managers, executives, uninformed, etc.?
Continuing the prior section, you need to first prepare for the room by identifying the audience.
Is this an interview with an external recruiter who works as an extended partner to the end client? An HR manager or internal recruiter for a small company? The hiring manager? Your eventual peer? Is it a panel of three but potentially up to five people?
You need to know as much as possible about who you’re talking to and what view or approach they have to the conversation, what information they might be looking for, and what type of personalities they have.
For example, I knew a hiring manager who frequently paused in silence for 5-8 seconds after the candidates spoke. His face would sort of twist like a balloon tie, but he remained silent. This frequently prompted the candidates to interpret this pause as a sign to continue speaking, when really the hiring manager was just processing the information and dialogue before responding. He was an incredibly analytical leader. Knowing this ahead of time enabled me to prepare the candidate to properly speak, shut up, and wait. He was hired.
In the age of remote work, video interviews are incredibly common. You should understand the format of the interview before it begins. Something else to determine is if they are going to be on or off camera. Even if the hiring team arrives and stays off camera, stay on camera. Be confident and talk to that black rectangle on your screen like there is a real face there. You want them to see you, to gauge your sense of excitement and energy in this interview, and to see you lean into the conversation fully engaged.
If the people you interview with leave their cameras off, there are a couple things to consider. It likely means they do not require team members to be on-camera during meetings, which can say a lot about a company’s culture (not necessarily bad at all, but less personal). This can make people harder to communicate with effectively, so you will then need to ask yourself if you’d be comfortable working with team members you hardly ever actually see.
Understand the History of this Position at the Company
Is it a backfill or a new position?
If you search on LinkedIn for people who previously worked at that company in that role, you might identify a pattern of longevity or high turnover.
If you notice that the only other person who had that role on the team was recently promoted, you can determine that this position offers the opportunity to learn from the previous person. If you are looking for a role with growth potential, that is an excellent sign.
Your recruiter or HR contact will have this information. All you need to do is ask!
The Tools and Technologies Required
Unless the role is more tool/tech-specific, do not overprepare here. Many hiring teams do not emphasize specific tools nearly as much as postings, and they are open-minded about someone learning the technologies over the first few months.
Know what you know and can communicate about your experience with XYZ, but also figure out what similar options you’re familiar with and could speak about.
Watch a few YouTube videos on each of the more prominent and/or ones you are less familiar with and take some notes until you’ve got something to contribute.
They may never come up, but it’s better to be prepared!
Any Recent Corporate Developments That Could Impact your Life or Job Security
- Potential Mergers & Acquisitions?
- A looming Return-to-Office mandate?
- Bonuses going unpaid last year?
- A recent change in management on this team?
- This position being posted, closed, and then reposted?
Don’t be shy about bringing up some of these topics, especially in early conversations with recruiters and HR. If you don’t feel like you are getting straight answers, continue to probe throughout until you feel good about it, or you’ve heard enough red flags to pull yourself from contention.
Test Your Technology and Prepare Your Background
A few years ago, I was invited to join a livestream by my friend, the amazing and patient security leader, Jax Scott. She got to watch my entire tech stack implode over a half-hour. Admittedly, I failed to prepare.
The “stream room” wouldn’t load on my laptop, so I switched to another laptop right after the show started. My mic would not sync with the new laptop, which then died a few minutes later, so I sprinted to another office on the floor above. I set up my cell phone on two stacks of boxes and reconnected. My Airpods died a few minutes later. I had to leave again to find my corded headphones and split the stacks apart so I could slide the cord up in between and plug into the phone. And then my phone died. I have never gone back and watched that stream, but I imagine I struggled to keep my composure despite a jovial energy within the chat.
Long story short – make sure your devices are fully charged and functional. What a different experience Jax, the viewers, and I would have all had if I just took a few minutes to prepare my technology.
Ensure your setting is clean, organized, well-lit, and quiet. If you need to bribe your kids with an iPad for a half hour and an ice cream trip later, so be it – just make sure your distractions are limited and that your environment is professional.
Questions! Don’t Forget to Ask Questions!
For each interview, you should prepare a set of questions. This seems like an obvious tip, but it is ridiculous how many candidates struggle to do it. Either they fail to write any down prior to the interview and can’t come up with any on the spot, or the quality of their questions fails to read the room (for example, asking the Senior Director, “What’s the salary?”).
Repeat questions in each interview, as this is a great way to evaluate consistent messaging from everyone (very important).
Some should be specifically tailored to the people you’re meeting with. The less generic, the better.
Write them down. It is so easy to think, “I’ll remember to ask this,” and then when it’s time for questions, our minds go blank.
WRITE THEM DOWN, and then don’t forget to have them on-hand for the interview.
This is your career we are talking about! Respect the seriousness of the opportunity and prepare accordingly with questions that spark conversation and reveal insights about the role.
Mentally Prepare for the Fact That Your Prep Can Fail
Your kids may still come into the room and interrupt. Your dog could bark at the UPS guy. Your camera may not work, and your internet could go out.
How you handle these moments is being watched and evaluated, and oftentimes when things go wrong, candidates who find a way to make the best of it and this ability to adapt and remain locked in can really shine with the interviewer.
Elevate Your Communication Level
Almost every second of every day, we have the opportunity to communicate with someone else. How we go about it is what separates the introverts from extroverts, the professional from unprofessional, and far too often, the employed from the unemployed.
Each Person and Interview is Equally Important in the Process
Everyone you speak to throughout an interview process is important. They are involved for a reason, and they hold some level of gatekeeping ability. You want as many advocates for you throughout the process as possible, so make every first impression a memorable and positive one, and remain respectful and responsive with everyone you interact with.
I have seen dozens of people dismiss the first interview as unimportant because it was with a recruiter or HR member, and they didn’t prepare. They neglected to consider that the organization might have selected these people to be the first point of contact because they trusted their judgment the most.
The Interview Format Matters
There will be several opportunities to demonstrate your strong communication skills, with as many as 5-10 total people. This may include multiple channels including in-person, video, phone, text, email, LinkedIn, Discord, the list goes on. Each method has its own set of rules and guidelines. Some acceptable language or demeanors in one channel may be considered unprofessional in another setting. Read the room. Stay classy, friendly, quick to respond, and understand your audience.
For video and in-person chats, you don’t just communicate with your mouth. Your steady eye contact, your engaged facial expressions, your upright posture, the way you lean into the camera – these things make you memorable. They tell a story about who you are and your future behavior as a colleague.
When the conversation is rolling (or stalling), pay attention to the tempo, the volume level, who is leading the dialogue, and their own facial expressions. Adapt your approach to the temperature of the room you are reading.
Throughout the interview process, you will be constantly evaluated for your written communication skills as you interact with others via email, texting, and messaging. A lot can get lost in translation this way, so it is critical to read, reread, and then maybe reread the text again before replying. If someone takes the time to give you instructions, information, or requests something specific, and your response shows you didn’t read the message carefully, it could be devastating to your candidacy. It can be tough to recover from and can get you ruled out entirely. Take the time to read messages carefully and respond accurately. Also, before sending your response, read and reread that, too.
Be Ready to Respond with Some Counters
It’s entirely likely that you will be asked some questions you can’t adequately answer or prepare for.
Saying, “I don’t know” is usually appreciated, but also doesn’t add much. It’s better than bluffing your way through it, but there’s more you can do to build confidence in your abilities.
Here are a couple example replies that set the stage for your overall success, as well as to flip the spotlight back on them.
“I expected you might bring that up. I did spend quite a bit of time trying to learn about this prior to this interview, as I have not had the chance to get that experience yet. I am happy to take a shot at answering that, if interested, and would greatly appreciate your thoughts on the topic!”
“That is actually not something I’ve had much experience with, but one of the primary reasons I was most interested in this role. Who on your team is currently working with this tool? Okay, Tony, great. Tony, would you mind shedding light on how you are currently using this and how you’d like to see it being utilized in the future?”
“Honestly, I don’t know off the top of my head. I know as soon as I look it up after this interview, I’m going to smack myself for not being able to recall as that was something that came up in my studies a lot last year. I’d be happy to hear your thoughts on it.”
Additional Interviewing Communication Tips
Every time you apply, send a message to at least one person. By doing so, you’ll be practicing the art of OSINT, finding relevant points of contact who could potentially increase the visibility of your resume. Jobs posted on LinkedIn often include the profile of the person posting them, facilitating a direct connection. Investing five minutes is a small price to pay if it leads to a positive connection. It may not move the needle, but it also may be the single differentiator in why you get the interview.
Another tip is to create a sort of blueprint or timeline for how and when you are going to communicate with various people throughout the interview process. This might include thank you notes, connecting with the interviewers on LinkedIn following the chat, or just trying to get a pulse on the situation. For example, you may not want to contact the recruiter for a third time with the same question, “Any updates?” Next time, try something like, “Hi Leslie, just wanted to proactively share my availability for next week in case the team is interested in continuing the conversation. I’m free on _____.” If Leslie has an update, this type of email probably prompts it, but at the very least shows you are interested in the role and putting in the effort to make Leslie’s life a little easier.
Continue to reinvent your language. Go back through your last ten emails – maybe half with a response, half without – and gauge if any specific phrases or questions used repeatedly were more successful than others. If something works, try it more often. If it seems to yield no results, adjust the wording. Instead of, “Just following up to see if there are any updates,” maybe try instead, “I’m continuing to interview for other positions, but I wanted to confirm with you my interest in your team and role remains very strong!” If there is an update available, you’re more likely to get it with that second phrase, despite it not even asking for an update.
Give Yourself 30 Minutes
This is a shorter piece of advice, but also could prove to be the most valuable: If you can, give yourself a free 30-minute window right before the interview.
Don’t use this time for last-minute studying. This isn’t the time for reviewing the job description or profiles of people you’re speaking with. You know it or you don’t.
This is a block of time to ensure you not only avoid going into the interview stressed out or with devices failing you, but that you arrive in the best of spirits. Your energy and mood in an interview might be the most important factor in the whole situation. It’s easy to tell when someone is anxious or flustered, and showing up to the interview like this can disrupt the entire flow of the conversation from the very start.
What relaxes you? What always puts you in a good mood? It might be listening to the Harry Potter soundtrack or looking at photos of your child as a baby. It might be a motivational video or taking a shower. It could be meditating, going for a walk, praying, or calling your mom.
If you can identify something that regularly improves your mood and energy, build this into your interview process and make it a permanent fixture in how you prepare.
The Finish Line
Interviews are easier for some of us than others, but they are an activity we can all get better at with practice. If you make time to prepare, understand your audience, communicate effectively, and ensure your energy and engagement levels are high, you really can’t ask much more from yourself. You can do everything correctly and still not get the job, but focusing on these areas will improve your potential for getting that offer.
In addition to the tips above, we provide a ton of customized advice and recommendations for interviews, resumes, career choices, and networking in our PCRP (Practical Career Ready Professional) program. Check out the action here: https://certifications.tcm-sec.com/pcrp/. Also, check out our FREE Soft Skills for the Job Market course in TCM Security Academy for more general advice.
About the Author: Joe Hudson
Joe Hudson is a dad, husband, and manager of several fantasy football teams. He is a former elementary school teacher, spending nine years educating military and public school students with a primary focus on building confidence, problem solving, and strong communication skills. He started a new chapter of his career in 2015 as a tech recruiter, where he was first exposed to his new love for cybersecurity.
He has met with and helped thousands of people all over the world with career advice and regularly participates in podcasts, livestreams, and presentations to continue offering time and updated tips. He is currently the Director of Growth with TCM, where he oversees consulting and training partnerships with orgs globally. He loves meeting with people, and he loves being a teammate. His current boss is a former placement, a great example of how we never know where life is going to take us.
About TCM Security
TCM Security is a veteran-owned, cybersecurity services and education company founded in Charlotte, NC. Our services division has the mission of protecting people, sensitive data, and systems. With decades of combined experience, thousands of hours of practice, and core values from our time in service, we use our skill set to secure your environment. The TCM Security Academy is an educational platform dedicated to providing affordable, top-notch cybersecurity training to our individual students and corporate clients including both self-paced and instructor-led online courses as well as custom training solutions. We also provide several vendor-agnostic, practical hands-on certification exams to ensure proven job-ready skills to prospective employers.
Pentest Services: https://tcmdev.tcmsecurity.com/our-services/
Follow Us: Blog | LinkedIn | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Contact Us: sales@tcm-sec.com
See How We Can Secure Your Assets
Let’s talk about how TCM Security can solve your cybersecurity needs. Give us a call, send us an e-mail, or fill out the contact form below to get started.