Ace Your Interview
Whether you’re just starting out or have a tenured career, interviewing isn’t always easy! Here at Navan, we want you to feel prepared to be your best. Here are tips for you to succeed while interviewing at Navan.
Read the job description a few days before your interview. It might sound obvious, but sometimes we are not reading consciously. Take your time reading the job description and understanding the role. Based on the skills mentioned in the job description - identify your strengths, areas of improvement, and take note of other skills that you have that can make you stand out.
Remember this is a meeting of minds - it’s a two-way street! You are also interviewing us, you are both the interviewer and an interviewee. Some questions you might want to ask yourself are: Why would this company be a good fit for what I am looking for? Is this the best next step for me? We will do our best to tell you everything about working at Navan, but bringing more questions to the table can open interesting discussions and reveal what you really need and want in your next role.
Do your research - When interviewing with a new company, you should always do some research to learn about their history, what they are currently doing, and future goals or plans for the organization. You can learn a lot about the culture, growth, opportunities, and initiatives this way. Some resources can be LinkedIn, blogs, podcasts, and news articles. The sky's the limit… Since Navan is not a person, but a group of people working towards the same goal, do the same research with your interviewers. This is a great way to connect with people and have a better understanding of their team, culture, interests, hobbies, and past experiences. Companies are more than just a corporation, they are built by their people.
Bring your best self - We want to meet the real YOU, but as we all know: preparation is the key for success. If you are attending an interview in-person, make sure you plan plenty of time to arrive at the office and get set-up comfortably. You can even ask your recruiter if there is a dress code for your interview and, most importantly, do your best to show up on time. If you are running late, just make sure to email us so we can make the proper adjustments for you. The same applies if your interview will be virtual! We recommend setting yourself in a quiet environment with no distractions with a strong internet connection and a well lit space that you feel comfortable in.
Life happens - As we said before, we recommend being prepared. However, we are aware that some situations are out of our control. So don’t stress if you can’t make it because your kids are sick or they show up in the middle of your interview, or even if your cat suddenly decides that the best resting place in your house is your keyboard. We know that anything can happen. So If you ever need to make a change, or have an emergency, you can always reach us for support. Look for your confirmation email or last communication, and our coordination team will be there for you!
Structure your answers and anecdotes - Remember to keep focus and be concise when you share your experiences. The interview may seem long at first, but the time can pass very quickly! We want you to have enough time to ask questions. Building your answers prior can help you get clarity about your own experience and is a great way to demonstrate your skills and values. For this, we always recommend using the S.T.A.R. method!
Situation: Explain in a few words the context.
Task: What did you need to do? Was it a solution or improvement?
Action: What was the action that you had to take to solve or achieve the goal?
Result: What was the result of your action? How did everything end?
Ready to ace your virtual interview? Treat your interview the same way you would an in-person interview and make sure you put your best foot forward by preparing your computer before the interview! The latest versions of Google Chrome and Firefox browsers are recommended for interviews. Ensure you have installed any of these browsers before the interview.
Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing tool that lets you host virtual one-on-one or team meetings easily. To create a Zoom account, visit Zoom.us and click the “Sign Up Now” button at the top-right corner of the screen. Once your account is set up or if you are already logged in, click on the Zoom link provided in your interview confirmation email.
Note: Download the desktop app/Zoom client from the Zoom website for easy access.
Coderpad is a live technical assessment platform we use to conduct coding interviews. Our recruiting coordinators provide Coderpad links in your interview confirmation and calendar invites. On the day of your interview, open the link, input your name, and join the interview.
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