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- We asked the HR chiefs at Facebook, Netflix, Twitter, and other top tech companies how to ace their interviews and rise through the ranks.
- To get hired at Microsoft, you’ll need to display curiosity and a desire to learn.
- At Twitter, it’s a red flag if a candidate has done exactly the same job before.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
For many, working at a top tech company like Hulu or Twitter would be nothing short of a dream job.
But it’s not always easy getting a foot in the door — and it can be even harder to rise through the ranks of stellar performers once you’re there.
If there’s anyone who knows how to do just that, it’s the HR chiefs at these top tech companies, who oversee initiatives such as recruiting, hiring, and granting promotions. So Business Insider went straight to the source.
We asked the heads of HR at companies including Lyft, LinkedIn, and Oscar to spill their best advice on acing the interview, ascending to management, and making every day exciting. Read on for the most surprising insights and practical tips they shared:
Lori Goler, head of HR at Facebook
Courtesy of Facebook
The question you’ll have to answer if you interview with her
At Facebook, we believe in the power of playing to your strengths, which means doing work that you’re both good at and that you enjoy. We know that when someone is playing to their strengths, they are both doing their best work and that it drives a sense of fulfillment in their work.
To help be sure that we are hiring people in a role that plays to their strengths, I always ask a strengths-based question in my interviews to help identify the right role for someone. The question I ask is: "On your very best day at work — the day you come home and think you have the best job in the world — what did you do that day?"
How to succeed at Facebook, beyond just working hard
The vast majority of work we do at Facebook is team-based and often cross-functional. It isn’t about a single person working by themselves to get something done. For that reason, we really value people who work to make the team, people and community around them better and stronger.
These are people who make decisions based on what’s best for the team rather than optimizing for their own goals or projects — the people who are able to step outside their own role to see the larger organization and help the people around them tend to have the biggest impact.
Jessica Neal, chief talent officer at Netflix
Courtesy of Netflix
The one trait you need to succeed at Netflix
If you’re not a curious person, then you might have a hard time working here. We are constantly seeking to learn more about our business, more about ourselves, more about others, and more about the world. If someone has that appetite, they’ll likely fit in really well.
The most impressive thing any job candidate has done
In one interview, a candidate respectfully walked me through how an aspect of our product could be better. I appreciated the courage to be candid and truthful, and ultimately the candidate was right and we ended up giving them an offer.
Emily Nishi, chief people officer at Lyft
Courtesy of Lyft
The traits you need to get hired at Lyft
There’s an energy and fast-paced nature about Lyft that’s really exciting. People truly care about authenticity, and want to work together towards a shared mission. If I had to pick one trait or skill, it would be that you have a "make it happen" outlook — but also strongly align with our other values of "be yourself" and "uplift others."
The most impressive thing any job candidate has done
This may not work for everyone, but there was a candidate recently who asked me at the end of our conversation, "What could I have done better in this interview?" It was unexpected and refreshing since they said it with such authenticity, self-awareness, and humility — and it showed they were eager to learn and grow. "Be yourself" is one of Lyft’s core values, so I loved it!
I think it’s helpful as a candidate to be sincerely excited for the role you’re interviewing for, and to develop a growth mindset — these are great skills that will help keep you motivated months and years after getting the job.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- A new book by Facebook’s HR consultant urges bosses to pass on well-rounded job candidates. Here’s the unconventional hire it recommends.
- Tinder’s HR chief spends interviews listening closely to how job candidates describe their current roles. Here’s what she wants to hear.
- The HR chief of an $18 billion holding company with brands like Vimeo and Daily Beast started out as an executive assistant. Here are the 3 steps she took to get there.
Source: Business Insider – slebowitz@businessinsider.com (Shana Lebowitz)