Top 5 Interview Tips
Interviews are up there with some of the most nerve-wracking experiences we go through. During the lead-up to an interview, your mind races with questions, trying to figure out the formula for the perfect candidate.
This is completely normal.
Of course, you want to ace the interview, impress your interviewer, and ultimately secure the role.
While it’s almost impossible to figure out exactly what your interviewer is looking for, there are several ways to ensure your interview goes smoothly and, your personality reflects your CV.
Today, we’re sharing our interview tips with you, to help you have the edge in your next interview.
Failure to prepare means preparing to fail
As cliche as it may sound, remembering this will help you get in the right frame of mind for your interviews, ensuring you can answer any questions that your interviewer may throw at you with confidence.
An interest in a role indicates an interest in the company. Researching the company, its values, and ethos can help you reflect these within your own, showing the interviewer why you might suit the culture at their company. Doing some research before your interview is the perfect way to understand what the company can offer you and what progression to expect, as well as understanding their company culture. Good knowledge of the company and the importance of the role within this is impressive to an interviewer and allows back and forth questioning to flow naturally as you show genuine curiosity about the position and the company. Even something as minor as running through interview questions out loud will help you take mental notes of your answers, helping you articulate your thoughts when asked similar questions in the interview.
Confidence is Key
It’s often easier said than done, but keeping calm and confident can help you compose yourself if you suffer from interview nerves. Interviews are all about selling yourself to the interviewer. If you are prone to interview nerves, remind yourself that you were invited to interview because there was something about you and your CV that caught their attention. Go in there with that knowledge. Sit up, speak directly and confidently and make eye contact, remind them why they chose your CV from the bunch.
Confidence VS Cockiness
When interviewing, hiring managers are not only looking for the best fit for the role but the best fit for their existing team. Having pride in your achievements, experience and skillset are encouraged and normal. After all it’s what sets you aside from other candidates. However, if you convey this with a poor attitude it can come across as arrogant, entitled, and generally unpleasant. Demonstrate your skills, explain how you have developed them and express the experiences which you think showcase these best.
Listen to the Interviewer
An interview, at its foundation, is an exchange of information. Your interviewer is giving you information about the company, the role, and what this entails. Missing this information can mean your missing opportunities to ask questions, respond to key areas, and letting the interviewer know you are engaged and attentive. When the interviewer is giving you information, respond to this with your body language and small vocalisations, don’t steer the conversation too firmly as this may be seen as poor communication. If the interviewer presents an opportunity to discuss a relevant skill, experience or example do so, but ensure that you are letting them speak and get their information across.
Recognise the Environment
As much as interviewers may like to see a glimpse of your personality, an interview is a formal meeting and should always be thought of as such. Go into an interview with this mindset and alter your approach accordingly. If the interviewer seems to be steering it down a slightly less formal path, respond to this by matching their pace. Convey your excitement and interest in the role as well as your passion for your skills, in the way you feel the interviewer is expecting. Interviewers will often lead by setting the tone, be this formal or relaxed allowing you to relax into the environment and answer the questions, discuss your skills and ask your own questions freely.
At the end of the day, an interview is as useful for you as it is for the employer. On paper, a job description might fit you to a tee, however, interviews can reveal elements about the role and the company that might steer your decision in other directions. One way to help curb your interview nerves is to remember this. It’s your opportunity to gauge whether the role is right for you too.
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