Few, if any, of these evaluators will have experience doing the job you’re seeking. But they have conducted hundreds of tests and interviews, studied best practices, and applied frameworks grounded in social science.Companies are using them in increasing numbersto ensure that their most critical hiring decisions are based on data-driven analysis rather than gut instinct or bias. So like it or not, these firms hold sway over not only your chances of being appointed in a current search but also your future career opportunities, either elevating you into contention for other top jobs or taking you out of it. That’s because their work feeds into both candidate selection and leadership pipeline development for many client companies. To impress these outside hiring experts (as well as others involved in the process), we recommend you prepare in five key ways: Adopt a development mindset, craft a bold vision memo, anticipate every assessment, delve deep for interviews, and line up strong references.