Adriane Schwager, CEO and co-founder of hiring platform GrowthAssistant, has spent 20 years recruiting and has a crucial piece of advice for job seekers at any level: “Show up prepared.” In an interview with CNBC Make It, Schwager shared her concern that candidates' preparedness has noticeably declined over the past five years.
"I'm shocked at how often candidates fail to do their homework," Schwager explained. "A basic question I see missed frequently is, 'What does the company you're interviewing for actually do?'"
Previously, this advice was mainly given to entry-level job seekers, but Schwager has noticed the issue arising even at senior levels, which she finds surprising. She believes this trend is more common among candidates coming through third-party recruiters. "Either they’re not reviewing the preparation materials or weren’t actively seeking the role in the first place," she speculated.
However, she emphasised that once an interview is scheduled, it’s essential to do research and show genuine interest in the role. "Otherwise, it's a waste of time for both parties," Schwager added.
According to Schwager, preparing for an interview doesn’t require extensive time. She appreciates when candidates reference something from her LinkedIn or X profile at the start of the interview, as it immediately signals their engagement and sets a positive tone.
For candidates looking to go above and beyond, Schwager recommends leveraging any mutual connections with the interviewer for insights on their management style. One standout leadership hire even listened to podcast interviews Schwager had participated in prior to their meeting.
Lastly, she suggested that for certain companies, it’s worth reaching out directly to top executives to express interest in a role. Some of her most enthusiastic hires were people who contacted her via social media, showing they knew exactly why they were applying and demonstrating full engagement in the process.
