Top Interview tips
Interviews are not a tough exercise to master and
are certainly not a black art. They are a tool for the interviewer
to obtain information about yourself so that they can make a balanced
business judgement as to whether you are right for the role. 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 (i.e when established, financial status and mission statements) your 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 so it’s well worth preparing your answers beforehand. 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.
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 Mickey Mouse tie and matching 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 and well groomed hair etc. This how their customers will see you when you visit them.
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.
Take a notepad and pen 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 non-dominant hand so that you have your ‘shaking’ hand free. 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.
Take control of the interview
You must treat the interview as you would treat any sales pitch. In most cases you will only have a limited amount of time to sell yourself and to answer their questions so be sure to use the time efficiently and leave them in no doubt of your suitability for the role. It is therefore essential to take control at an early stage and resist the urge of simply reading through your CV. Instead, you should ascertain their requirements and what they would like you to demonstrate during the interview and continue to do so.
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 fake.
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!)
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 and ask them if they have any reservations about you. If they have, treat them as an objection and overcome them. Once you have done this, ask them if they are now comfortable with that reservation. If the feedback is positive ensure to ask for the second interview.
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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