FREELANCE
2EUROPE

Step 5: Interview

The interview : What you should and shouldn’t do to succeed in this step

Good news, if you have an interview, you are significantly closer to the goal! The interview is the most crucial step; it allows the recruiter to verify the accuracy of the CV.

Be responsive and available for the interview

When the recruiter asks for your availability to schedule a job interview with the client, the right answer is “I am available today, tomorrow, or whenever the client desires.” Never respond with “I am very busy right now, I am available next week.” This sends a very negative impression to the recruiter, who may perceive you as unmotivated or not taking the opportunity seriously. It also increases the chances of another candidate convincing the recruiter before they see you. Even worse, never reschedule an interview after agreeing to a date. From experience, these actions drastically decrease your chances of landing the job.

Preparing for the interview

Research the company that will be interviewing you, as well as the end client. Usually, a first round of interviews is conducted with a recruitment company. It is crucial to ask questions about the client company where you will be placed as a Freelancer. Have a clear idea of the industry sector and the services provided by the client company. Being informed about the client company demonstrates that you are meticulous and knowledgeable about the subject. Typically, this only takes 30 minutes of Google research and reading articles online before the interview.

Review and familiarize yourself with the technologies mentioned in the job description. Understand their interface with the infrastructure and other technologies, know what they are used for, when and how to use them, and prepare concrete examples of how you have used these technologies in your career.

Prepare for typical interview questions

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  Give an example of conflict management: The example should demonstrate that in a crisis situation within the team, you managed to analyze the situation, implement a conflict resolution procedure based on empathy and technical intelligence, enabling you to find a solution that satisfies each stakeholder. Take a concrete example. If you don’t have one, it can be a real situation you observed in another team but were not involved in, yet you saw a colleague resolve the problem professionally. You can appropriate an experience from another. If you have never personally observed such a situation, which is unlikely, invent one, but prepare your story in advance.
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  Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Be careful never to say that you want to become the boss; often, the client’s expectation for a freelance expert is that they are reliable, ambitious in technical learning, but not ambitious in terms of hierarchical responsibility. You should convey the image of a flexible person who will adapt to the client’s needs and do whatever is necessary to help the client achieve their goals. As a Freelancer, you should prioritize the client’s objectives over your own and present yourself as an external consultant who will put the client’s goals first.

The right interview environment

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  Ensure you have an excellent and stable WIFI / 5G connection.
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  Be in a quiet and well-lit place.
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  Wear a suit and tie; this demonstrates that you respect and take the interview seriously. Opt for a blue or dark gray suit, a white shirt, and a dark-colored tie that contrasts with the suit. For women, opt for suits in blue or dark gray as well.
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  Avoid necklaces around the neck and wrist.
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  Avoid wearing sunglasses.

During the interview

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  Be in the virtual room 5 min before the interview time.
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  Politely greet your interviewers.
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  Listen attentively and never interrupt the interviewer.
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  Be resourceful; answer systematically to the best of your ability, but know when to admit if you don’t know the answer and offer to follow up with a response after some research. Emphasize your ability to quickly learn autonomously to solve new technical problems.
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  If asked, Mention that you are a Freelancer with a work and residence permit and that you are associated with a consultancy company based in Luxembourg; you can send billing information later via email.
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  Mention that you need to serve an 8-week notice period with your current client starting from the contract signing with the new client. This will give us ample time to arrange for your residence and work permit if you have prepared your documentation in advance (see step 1)
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  Ask for the contact information, email, and telephone number of the interviewers.
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  Inquire about when they expect to make a decision

After the interview

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  Send a thank-you email for the time the interviewers have dedicated to you. Either the day of the interview, or the day following the interview.
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  Follow up to inquire about a decision after the deadline they provided.

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Next Step: The Contract