Interview Advice
Interviews should be seen as business meetings which enable both parties to obtain information and make an informed decision about each other. Prepare for an interview in the same way you would prepare for any other professional meeting.
Taking note of the following 10 interview tips will help you feel confident and prepared for any interview, allowing your personality and skills to come through.
Be prepared - research beforehand
You are expected to know details about the company, the role, their products/services and their marketplace/competition. Why do you want the job? Why are you looking to leave your existing employer? Why do you want to work for the company? What benefits can you bring to the role/company? - these are all questions that you will more than likely be asked. On the way to the interview imagine yourself in the role and what your main tasks will be, this will give you ideas that will help you ‘think on your feet’ when you are thrown that tough question.
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First impressions do count
Research has shown that people make an initial judgement of an individual in a very short time frame – as little as two minutes. Leave the Homer Simpson tie and orange socks in your wardrobe! It’s a cliché but interviewers will not be making an assumption of you if you keep your appearance mainstream - dark suits, white blouse/shirts, etc. Pay attention to detail, clean fingernails, polished shoes etc.
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Be friendly and polite to everyone you meet
PA’s to work colleagues are often asked their opinions on candidates - your five minute ‘passing of the day’ with the receptionist could be the rapport building test that clinches the role.
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Make Notes
Take a notepad into every interview and take notes – it will help you to gather information and make you look professional. Take the notepad in a smart case/document wallet – there is nothing worse than a candidate attending an interview with a dog-eared battered pad. It sounds simple but hold your case in your left hand so that you have your ‘shaking’ hand free. Ideally, also remain standing rather than sit down in the reception area. This creates an impression of energy and literally keeps you ‘on your toes!’.
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When you meet the interviewer smile
Introduce yourself clearly. Ensure your handshake is confident but not too firm. Be positive about the company – compliment the offices, how friendly the receptionist is, how easy to find the offices were, how good the tea is – but don’t go overboard! Maintain solid, but natural eye contact.
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Listen!
Do not monopolise the conversation and always ensure that the interviewer is listening to you. Be succinct in your answers and don’t waffle. Don’t tell anecdotes unless they are highly relevant to the question and are backing up your case. First interviews tend to be about personality, character and whether you’d fit into the team dynamics – ensure that you get your personality across but remember that an interview is a business meeting. The best interviews are two way - where the balance of conversation is equal. Don’t wait until the formal ‘Any questions?’ stage, ask questions throughout.
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Build Rapport
Mirror the style of the interviewer. Talk at the same pace in the same tone. If you breathe at the same pace as the interviewer you will find yourself communicating at a similar pace. If the interviewer is formal, be formal, if they are more relaxed change your stance accordingly. Be natural, don’t try to be someone that you are not. Use natural body language, over-emphasised body language is very easy to spot and comes across as contrived.
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Take your time
If you are unsure of the question, ask for clarification. Take a few seconds out to compose your succinct answer to the question (people often feel that other people hate silence. However, 3-4 seconds goes unnoticed and could give you the thinking time to construct that killer-answer!)
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Close the interview
If you are interested in the role - tell them. Ask how the interviewer feels about your suitability to the role. Ask what the next stage of the process will be. Show you are keen.
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Enjoy yourself
The more research you do, the more confident you will be. The more confident you are, the more your personality will come across and the better you will perform at interviews. Take time to consider your strengths, your qualities, your career highlights, and your personal achievements, use these as the answers to those tough interview questions. Above all be enthusiastic and sell yourself throughout.
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