Interviews can be daunting for a lot of people but try to remember that they are just professional conversations. Employers are selling their business and what they can offer to you as much as you are selling your experience to them. Try to make the interview a 2-way conversation. Act interested and ask questions you think would be relevant or could help you understand the role better. You should never leave an interview without a clear understanding of what the role entails and what your day-to-day duties would be.
1. The Basics – First impressions matter. They say somebody makes a ‘solid impression of who you are’ within 7 seconds of meeting you. Introduce yourself, have a good posture, make eye contact, smile, have a firm handshake, be friendly and remember your manners. You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression!
2. Preparation Is Key – Look through the company website and do your research before the interview. Prepare key questions to ask, which are relevant to your research. This will show you have a genuine interest in them and shows you have researched the company. Have other questions prepared too that you want to know about the company/role. Remember that an interview is supposed to be a 2-way conversation so you can and should be able to ask the client sensible and relevant questions.
3. Bring Work Examples – Some employers will ask you to bring work examples along to help show them your capabilities. Even if an employer does not ask for work examples, it is always a good idea to bring a portfolio or something along with you to show. Worst case, the employer will say they do not have time to go through it properly but it shows willingness and proactiveness; showing you will go the extra mile and make you stand out above other candidates. It can also make the interview easier. It is much easier to explain something with examples than describe something from scratch.
4. Dress To Impress – Just because you are told you can wear casual clothes to an interview, it doesn’t mean you should. Work trousers and a shirt would always be recommended. If you are told to dress smart, a tie and suit jacket or a knee-length dress would be a good idea. It’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed. If you are having a video interview, the same rules should apply.
5. Time – Give yourself plenty of time to allow for the unexpected – traffic, train delays, finding the office. Plan your journey in advance of the interview (do you know how to get there, what trains/route you will take, do you have an alternative plan if your car breaks down or trains are cancelled?) Use Google maps to see the office so you know where to go as some offices are not easy to find. First impressions are key and if you are late, you are already on the backfoot. Having to rush to get to the interview on time will not help with your nerves or mental preparedness. If you are having a video interview, test the connection beforehand.
6. Be Professional – A lot of employers now have ‘informal’ interviews. This is to make people feel more relaxed so they are more themselves in interviews, rather than a professional version you want your potential employer to see. Just because an interview is ‘informal’, always treat it professionally. Don’t tell stories involving alcohol or be negative towards people you know or ex-employers. It doesn’t make you come across in a good light.
7. Communication – Communication is key. Not only what you say but how you say it. Be wary of how you are coming across. You can say as much with your body language as you can with your voice. Try to use an open posture; avoid crossing your arms as this could come across as you closing off. Try to be precise with your answers and expand on points, with examples if possible. But avoid talking ‘waffle’.
8. Take Your Time – When asked a question in an interview, you do not always need to answer immediately. Take a few seconds to gather your thoughts before answering questions, especially those you are not certain on. Take a sip of water to help the situation seem less awkward if you need to buy yourself a few extra seconds of thinking time. If you are still not sure, don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer to rephrase the question. If you’re still unsure after that, you can let them know you don’t know the answer to a question and then give it your best guess; you might get marks for trying. Don’t try to blag questions as interviewers would rather you are aware of your own weaknesses, rather than try to pull the wool over their eyes.
9. Confidence vs Arrogance – With interview nerves, it can be difficult to come across as confident. However, do not overcompensate by coming across as arrogant. If you come across as personable in an interview, you are much more likely to receive positive feedback. Nobody wants to work with a know-it-all or someone with a closed mind. You might know your profession very well but don’t make out you know everything.
10. Follow Up – At the end of the interview, if the role is of interest to you, let the employer know. Let them know what you particularly like within the business and why you think you would be a good fit for the role. Tell them what skills you have and what might set you apart from other candidates. Ask the interviewer when you would hope to receive feedback so there are clear timescales. Let the employer know you enjoyed meeting with them and thank them for their time!
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