Job interviews are nerve-wracking at the best of times! You know you’ll be put on the spot, tested and asked direct questions about you. Add to the mix, the interviewer may try to catch you out with numerous pitfalls that you could fall into.
But… knowing what to expect and having a well-thought-out approach can put you ahead of the competition and ideally win the role. Here are 10 interview tips we believe will help you win in a job interview…
RESEARCH THE COMPANY
Do your homework on the employer! It’s the basic level before anything. You may have done it before you applied for the role, but you certainly need to do it before an interview.
Get an understanding of the employer and what they will be looking for. The secret to this is that it will not only help you predict the interview questions but will give you an indication of the answers they may want to hear.
You can imagine “What do you know about the company?” is going to be one of the first questions you’re asked and you should be ready for it. If you don’t have an answer, it will be awkward and will make you seem amateurish and uninterested in the role.
Remember, the interview isn’t a test; it’s a platform where you can show skills and leverage position higher than the next person. If 9/10 people look at the company’s website, be the one person that researched them online properly – read articles, watched YouTube videos about the company, LinkedIn activity etc. Have a think about the message they are putting out, values, new projects etc and then think how your experience be relevant to one of their initiatives?
PREDICT QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Think of a list of questions you may get, write them down and prepare the answer for them.
Things to look out for are any gaps in your resume, the reason why you left past positions, revert to the job requirements to help you give strong examples which will highlight these skills.
An extremely common interview question is “Tell me about yourself?” or “Why do you want to work here?”. Have these answers under your belt and prepare them so you can give examples of how you’ve added value using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format. Using STAR will keep your answers quick and concise, plus this is usually a grading technique for the interviewer.
Some other questions to have under your belt are.
· What are your most notable accomplishments? How are they relevant to this job?
· Do you have examples of challenging situations you’ve overcome i.e dealing with conflict, working under pressure or managing important projects?
Spend some time taking down notes and preparing the answers. If they don’t come up as above, there will be elements of a question that you could pull from for the answer.
WHAT TO WEAR
What to wear for a job interview is always part of the thought process. I would say use an outfit which fits the culture of the organisation and shows that you’re professional. If in doubt; my dad always said, “it’s always better to overdress than underdress” and it’s held me in good stead!
A little research could do wonders here; if the company’s dress code is very casual, you might look a bit too formal or “too corporate” if you wear a suit. I’ve certainly heard it before so check for any employees’ photos on their LinkedIn to discover what the dress code is or, even better, ask your recruiter.
Whatever you choose you must appear clean and smart and keep jewellery/accessories to a minimum.
WHEN SHOULD I ARRIVE?
Simple answer, be punctual enough that you feel calm and in control. Arriving with enough time will help you achieve both things. A good time is 15 minutes before as you don’t want to arrive a few minutes early and arriving earlier than 15 minutes before could put time pressure on your interviewer.
A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION COUNTS
Being punctual and well-dressed are the key to this. Be warm and polite to everyone you meet and give a firm handshake when greeting the interviewer and remember to make eye contact.
Try not to smoke or eat right before the interview, bring a chewing gum if necessary to refresh your breath prior to the interview but get rid before. Another no-no that I hear now is people on their phones texting/scrolling social media as they’re waiting for the interview. Please don’t! Simply put the phone on silent and place in your bag/pocket
HOW TO BE CALM, CONFIDENT & FOCUSED
Job interviews are stressful but careful preparation will give you confidence and help you deal with the stress.
Throughout the interview demonstrate an enthusiastic, positive attitude. Use your hands to demonstrate and a clever trick is to keep your hands seen as it gives the impression of openness. Sitting with your arms crossed gives a negative impression, keeping your hands on show is the opposite
The quality of your answers, and the delivery, will be key throughout the interview. If you’ve used the previous steps, you will have a good idea of what to expect and what your answer will be.
Remember.
· answers should be concise and focused
· ensure your skills and experience are highlighted
· give examples of your achievements
· use STAR format where possible
· stay positive
· the interview is about only you.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE MODEST
One of the main traps to fall into is showcasing you were part of a team, and the team did this! Being in a team and working well in a team is a tremendous asset but focus on your role within the team. Do you accomplish your role within it, what was your role within the team, etc. The candidate who gets the job is often the one who showcases why they are the ideal candidate for the job and organisation.
Don’t hide your accomplishments, prepare several specific, tangible examples that demonstrate the impact you’ve had in your previous/current role.
SHOULD I ASK QUESTIONS?
YES!!! This is one of the best job interview tips. You must have a couple of questions up your sleeve to show that you’ve done some research, you are curious, and that you’re a serious candidate for the position.
If the interviewer has answered your pre-planned question, tell them that and reiterate the answer back. It shows that you’re both aligned on common targets and that you were listening. Also put yourself in the role!
Some good examples of questions to ask at the end of the interview include:
· What would you expect me to achieve in the first three to six months of the role?
· How will my performance be measured in this role?
· What is the official performance review process like at your company?
· What would be the most important and pressing problem for me to tackle?
· What is the company culture like?
MAKE A GOOD FINAL IMPRESSION
You want to leave making a good impression on exit
Thank each person who interviewed you before you leave. You might also mention how excited you are about this opportunity after meeting with them. The interview is a positive opportunity, make sure your words and body language reflect this.
DO I FOLLOW UP?
Yes, within 24 hours. Send a thank-you email once you get home and reiterate that you’re still very keen on the role
You’ve done it all now and it’s up to them.
I hope that helps. If you need more information or help reviewing your CV, you can email enquiries@weinnovatetalent.com and one of our consultants will do a one-on-one review to help you out to pull out the key skills
Don’t forget all our vacancies can be found here www.weinnovatetalent.com/vacancies
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