More and more hiring managers today are doing a preliminary interview over the phone before conducting in-person interviews. If you make it past this first step, and you're fortunate enough to land an in-person interview, congratulations! As part of your job hunt strategy, it's essential to understand the main hiring considerations from your interviewer's perspective.

In-person interviews: the hiring manager's perspective

Whittled down to its core, the in-person interview is a hiring manager's attempt to find out three things:

Can you do the job?

Interviewers want to know if you have the ability to handle the basic responsibilities of the role. They will likely ask many questions to this effect during the in-person interview. They're interested in the skills you have and your relevant work experience.

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Do you really want the job?

Companies want to hire someone who is genuinely enthusiastic about the opportunity. They'll be closely listening to the way you give answers during the in-person interview to evaluate your true level of excitement. Your attitude and the questions you ask will indicate the sincerity of your interest and how motivated you are to land the position. Be aware of interview don'ts.

Will you fit in?

An employer wants to gain a sense of how well you'd fit in with the corporate culture, and there is no better opportunity to observe this than during an in-person interview. Be yourself and let your personality shine through.