So you have a job interview – congratulations! Now it’s time to get interview ready!
The outcome of success in a job interview is down to three fundamental elements: planning, preparation and performance. If you have been brought forward for the interview it inevitably means you have passed the academic checklist required to get the role, but the hard work really starts at the first interview.
Well don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! Here are a few simple tips to ensure your job interview is a success and you give as good an account of yourself as possible – whether it’s taking place in-person, over a video call or a phone call.
Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Preparing and doing your research is vital for interview success. There are four main areas you will need to research and talk to your recruiter about to ensure you are interview ready.
The majority of interviews begin with the most common question: “Tell me about yourself”. This is your personal elevator pitch. The idea is to quickly communicate who you are and what value you will bring to the company and the role. So it’s vital to prepare for this well!
Then throughout your interview you will most likely be asked a series of questions exploring your skills, qualifications and experience. This is when knowing your CV inside out is so imperative! The types of questions likely to be asked fall under 4 main categories:
A lot of studies suggest that interviewers make up their minds about candidates in the first five minutes of the interview – and then spend the rest of the interview looking for things to reinforce that decision!
So let’s make those first few vital minutes count! Start off your interview with plenty of enthusiasm, express your appreciation for their time and really try to build up some rapport with your interviewer.
Ensure you smile, make eye contact, remember your interviewers name, have good posture, and speak clearly. This will give a positive and confident appearance.
Try to begin your answers with a positive affirmation or agreement. This is a good way to humanise the interaction between you and the interviewer.
It’s important you have questions prepared. It’s an opportunity for you to decide if this really is the perfect job, company and team for you. Plus it also shows your genuine interest in the role and the company.
Some examples of questions you could ask –
The Role
The Team
Learning and Development
The Company
Next Steps
Decide on what you’re going to wear well in advance of the interview – you don’t want to be stressed about this the morning of an interview! And remember, this is still important even if the interview is taking place remotely – they can still see you!
Relax, breath and well done – your interview is now over! So what’s next?
Contact your recruiter straight after the interview to let them know how it went, while it’s still all fresh in your head! If you feel the interview went well ensure you reiterate your interest for the role and how much you enjoyed meeting with the interviewer. Your recruiter will communicate this information to the company!
So now you are interview ready! If you are looking for your next career move please feel free to reach out to us – we are always here to help you with your
job search, career advice and
industry insights!
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