A job interview begins as soon as you accept the appointment and doesn’t end until you leave the company premises—or until the videoconference concludes if the interview is remote.

• If the first proposed date or time doesn’t work for you, politely propose an alternative or share the slots that suit you best. Important: do this only once, otherwise it may leave a negative impression, and there is no guarantee the interviewer can adjust their schedule.

• Arrive on time: lateness is unacceptable. Aim to arrive slightly early to relax and prepare. Be courteous and open to everyone you meet, as they could become your future colleagues.

During the interview, focus on these three essentials:

Pitch your career path by highlighting your passions and anecdotes directly related to the role. Prepare carefully, making concrete links between your experiences, acquired skills, and developed soft skills. Avoid generic phrases and never recite your CV, which the recruiter will have already read.

Demonstrate genuine interest in the company by referencing its latest news or commenting on industry trends as you perceive them. Maintain this interest throughout the interview, especially through the questions you ask the recruiter.

Align your body language with your words. Nonverbal communication is critical: maintain an open posture and smile. Given equal skills, recruiters often choose the candidate they can imagine interacting with comfortably in the long term—a “pleasant” personality matters.

Example of an Authentic Pitch: I am a professional, a mother, and a wife. I assume these roles every day—sometimes in this order of priority, sometimes in a different one, depending on the realities of the day. My passion for my work became clear during a sales prospecting meeting when a prospect told me, “You are so awkward in your desire to convince me that I can’t help but listen to you.” I was taken aback, and then we both burst out laughing. From that moment, I knew this was my calling. I then trained in all forms of sales approaches and negotiation techniques. Successively…

Mind Your Exit:

Stay focused until the very end. If the recruiter accompanies you to the company door, consider the interview ongoing. Be courteous to everyone you meet in the hallways until you leave the premises. Do not let your guard down before you have fully exited. For the final handshake with the recruiter at the door, without revisiting the interview, you can say, for example: "Thank you for the valuable time you spent with me during our interview earlier. I look forward to hearing from you soon."