Navan interview tips

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.

1. 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.

2. 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 questions to the table can open interesting discussions and reveal what you really need and want in your next role.

3. Do your research. When interviewing with a new company, you should always do some research to learn about its history, what it's currently doing, and its future goals or plans. 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.

4. 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 in-person interview, 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 is virtual! We recommend finding a quiet environment with no distractions, a strong internet connection, and a well-lit space you feel comfortable in.

5. 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!

6. 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?