Top 10 Tips: Interviews
Preparation
1) Research the company and industry thoroughly
Demonstrating that you have genuinely taken an interest in the company will set you apart from other candidates. Try and find out what they stand for, how long they’ve been around, how large their firm is and what sets them apart from others in their field. Be as specific as possible. This will demonstrate that you are really taking the interview seriously.
Ensure that you have a good knowledge of the industry that you are trying to work in. Know the meanings of terms and jargon used within the industry, and try to integrate these into the interview.
What do you know about the Company?
2) Reread the key responsibilities of the role -- know it well
You should have a good understanding of what the job entails day-to-day. Think about how your skills are relevant to these responsibilities.
Why are you interested in this role?
Emphasise your skills and what you can do for the team, not what they can do for you.
3) Reread your CV -- know it well
Be prepared for questions on what you’ve written on your CV (and possibility cover letter!). You should know the particular skills you’ve listed, and how they are relevant to the role.
Talk me through your career so far?
Make sure you cover your major achievements.
4) Rehearse your answers!
Make sure that you practise answering questions with a relative or friend.
Tell me about yourself
Keep this concise and focus on what you are like and your strengths.
What are your weaknesses?
Be honest. Make it clear what is a natural weakness but explain how you overcome it.
Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years' time?
Talk about your goals, and how this role will allow you to achieve those.
Tell me a time when… you have worked well in a team / lead a team / dealt with a difficult situation?
Use the “STAR method” (see below).
5) Prepare questions to ask them at the end of the interview
This is your opportunity to demonstrate that you have a genuine interest in the role, and that you can imagine yourself in the position. Asking questions about what things would be like if you were given the role forces the interviewers to visualise you working there, which may make you more likely to be considered.
What do you think the challenges will be for me in this job?
What is the team like that I shall be working in?
What opportunities are there for progression?
Where do you see the department going in the next few years?
Make sure you also ask when you are likely to hear back about how the interview went.
In the Room…
6) Wear a comfortable and appropriate outfit
Choose an outfit that is appropriate for the position. It’s better to dress too professionally than too casually! Ensure that it fits well and is comfortable -- this can make a big difference to how focussed you are on the day.
7) Confident body language
Stand up tall and make eye contact. First impressions mean a lot, and it’s great to demonstrate that you are self-assured and positive when you first meet the people carrying out the interview.
8) Use the “STAR method” to answer questions
When asked a question, it can be useful to structure your answer as follows:
Situation - describe the situation you were in
Task - describe the task you were undertaking
Action - explain the action you took
Result - conclude how this gave you a positive outcome
This format ensures that you can evidence one of your skills/qualities, rather than just asserting something with no substance.
9) Be genuine
If you don’t know the answer to a question, be honest about it! Building up an authentic, human rapport with your interviewers demonstrates that you are an amicable person who would get along well with others within a work environment. This can be a powerful quality when landing a new job.
Afterwards…
10) If it doesn’t go as well as you hoped, it is not the end of the world!
Relax! You did your best. Interviews can take some practice, and everyone gets nervous. There are plenty more jobs and interviews out there if this one didn’t go to plan.