Job interviews are stressful, whether it’s going for a job at your local supermarket, law firm or to become the boss of a business, preparation is key – to succeed at your interview read on. Job interview success is merely steps away…
But why be prepared?
You want the job – be it a career, a stepping stone or a bit of extra cash. The fact that you’ve applied means you want the job.
The right job or company – it’s an opportunity for you to discover whether you want to work for the company or do the job, would it be the right fit for you?
Not to look foolish – no one wants to look foolish, but being unprepared, scruffy and uninterested will do just that and dent your confidence, and may impact future opportunities. If you’re having a career change it may have been many years since you’ve had a job interview. This can be especially intimidating, here is how to navigate a midlife career change.
Practice – even if you don’t get the job, it’s a great experience, learn from it and improve for your next interview.
Types of interview
The traditional view of an interview is face-to-face, but video interviews via Skype, Zoom, Teams or phone interviews have become popular. This depends on the job, you may have an interviewer or a panel of 2 or more people interviewing you.
An interview can be one of the most important things we ever do, providing us with career progression, keeping us financially stable or developing ourselves.
These tips are most relevant to face-to-face interviews but most of them can be adapted to other types of interviews. So here are essential tips to help you succeed at that interview and get the job you want.
Essential tips for job interview success
#1. Location
Make sure you know where the interview is being held, have the postcode, and know where the building is and how to access it.
Before applying for the job make sure you know where the job’s located, you don’t want to waste your time on a job that you can’t take, because it’s the wrong location.
#2. Read the job description
To properly prepare have a good look at the job description and really get to grips with what they’re looking for. This will help you to match yourself to their expectations.
This will give you a hint at the sorts of questions they’ll ask and the type of work related examples they’ll want.
#3. Research your potential employer
Research them, understand the things that make the business tick, this can include: what they produce, advertising campaigns, recent blogs, new products or news worthy content.
Putting in the time will communicate to your potential employer that you’re conscientious and serious about wanting the job.
This research will impact on the rest of your preparation, you’ll have a better idea of how they’ll expect you to look and act.
#4. Revisit your CV and application form
If it’s been a while since you had a read of your CV give it a once over, this will remind you of its content – if they query it you can respond appropriately.
Also read through the application form you completed, have a read and you’ll be prepared to answer any questions based upon it.
#5. Think of questions you could ask them
Have a list of sensible questions you can ask the employer, it shows you’re keen. Restrict any pay or holiday questions to another time, it’s likely they were explained in the job description.
The questions you ask should make you look keen, motivated and eager to start, for example: is there progression within the business or further training and personal development?
#6. Be on time
Make sure to check what time the interview is and be there early, if it’s a complicated destination give yourself a bigger buffer to deal with any set backs.
If you’re too early you can pop to a local Cafe, be late and you’ll be stressed and it’ll reflect badly on you.
#7. Check for travel issues
If travelling by car check for traffic, accidents or road closures, this will give you a good idea of travel time.
If travelling by train check for strikes or other issues which may impact your journey.
#8. Have a contact number
If you’re running late give them a call to let them know, they may be able to shuffle your interview around. It’s not ideal being late, but not notifying them will waste their time and leave a bad impression of you.
Have a few methods to contact them, a contingency is always a good idea, even if it’s an email address.
#9. Dress appropriately
What you wear will depend on the job you’re going for, if applying for a bank job or management position a suit might be appropriate, for a cleaning or warehouse job more suitable attire is smart-casual.
Whatever you wear be well presented, clean clothes, hair brushed and showered. It helps if you’re comfortable in the clothes, not too many layers and make sure they fit.
#10. Turn all devices off
The last thing you want is a job interview going well and then a phone call, ping or other notification. Especially if your ring tone is humorous and not necessarily appropriate.
This goes for any other devices you may have, laptop, tablet or smart watch.
#11. Calm yourself
Take time before the interview to calm your nerves, use breathing techniques, meditation or mindfulness. The internet is abundant with helpful ways to calm your nerves.
Avoid stimulants like energy drinks or coffee, they may cause you to be jittery and fidget. If you need a caffeine hit, don’t overdo it.
#12. A good first impression
The first time a person meets you leaves a lasting impression, it’ll have an impact on how they feel about you. If you and someone else have similar skills the first impression will contribute to who gets the job.
Make sure you greet them properly, smile, say hello, look smart be on time and wait until you’re offered a seat to sit down.
#13. Be hydrated and fed
If you don’t eat you could end up with a jittery sick feeling during the interview. To be on top form avoid a large meal and stick to a snack, a breakfast bar or piece of fruit.
Also make sure you’re hydrated, but not too much, you don’t want to need a nervous wee. There’s no harm asking for water or taking your own with you, it’s a great excuse to take a breather to think.
#14. Don’t be too critical of previous employers
As much as you may be tempted, try not to rip your previous employer to shreds, or be too insulting.
If the interviewer asks questions be positive with your answers, you can be critical but make sure it’s justified, for example: there was little opportunity for progression.
#15. Keep answers concise
When asked a question keep it concise and to the point – focused.
Deviating from the question and waffle indicate nervousness or a disorganised mind. Most interviews are timed, use your time well, avoid irrelevant information.
#16. Treat everybody well
Thankfully most of us do this anyway, because we’re respectful of others. But pretend that everybody you meet on the day is the interviewer. This way you’ll be giving off the best impression to the reception staff, cleaner or anybody else you bump into.
In smaller companies everybody knows what occurs, so reflect badly on the reception staff and it’ll get back to the interviewer.
#17. Bring pen, paper and other relevant documents
Bring a pen and pad with you, it looks like you’re taking the whole thing seriously. You can bring notes as a prompt, questions you want to ask or information about the business you want to explore.
Also bring your CV, a copy of your application form, and any other relevant documents, for example: training certificates, qualification certificates, ID or driving licence.
#18. Use the right language
Ideally try to emulate the way they’re speaking without directly copying them, if they seem informal match them, but be respectful.
Try not to use slang, acronyms and definitely don’t swear.
#19. Watch your humour
Be careful of the humour you use, it may be appropriate with your mates but not suitable in a job interview. You don’t want to offend them.
Also if seeking progression within a business, how you use humour on the warehouse floor may not be the same as how you would use humour in a management role.
#20. Pause before answering
It’s not a race, you want to give the best answer you can, take your time, it indicates you’re considering the question thoroughly.
Having a cup of water can be useful in this circumstance, as a means to pause and think.
#21. Practice interviews
Make an effort to predict the type of questions they’ll ask, have a look at their website for ideas, or simply research popular interview questions. What would you ask if you were in their shoes?
Practice your answers by having someone ask you questions.
If you have to prepare a presentation, practice it, do it in front of someone, and improve on your public speaking before the interview.
#22. Be a self-promotor
Without boasting, big yourself up, you likely have a great skill set and have done wonderful things. Make sure this comes across to the interviewer, being too modest won’t help. Certain personality types find this difficult to do, extroverts often flourish with this whereas introverts tend to struggle.
Remember to sell yourself, be positive about what you’ve done, learnt and achieved – if confidence is an issue learn to be more confident.
#23. Body language
Be aware of your body language, it indicates if you’re nervous, confident, deceitful or truthful.
Make sure you maintain eye contact, smile, sit up straight and don’t fidget. Body language is something you can practice, at minimum you should be aware of your body language.
#24. Listen to the question
Don’t assume you know what they’re asking, listen to the questions and if you’re not sure what they’re asking, ask them to clarify it. Being a great listener is a necessary skill for most jobs and will impress the interviewer, click here to learn how to become a better listener.
You don’t want to look like you’re not paying attention or waste precious interview time. Make sure you think before you answer, don’t be too quick to give a response.
#25. Use the STAR method
This is a method you can use to construct an answer so its logical and concise, STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result.
There are a number of techniques, choose one and practice it.
#26. Do not lie or exaggerate
If you lie or over exaggerate you may get caught out and lose all integrity. They won’t trust you and could call a premature end to the interview.
You need to sell yourself but not at the expense of looking bad, also if you exaggerate your skills and get the job, you may not have the ability to do the job.
#27. Be assertive
Being shy and retiring won’t give the right impression, be assertive in you answers and resolute in what you say. Assertive people are good communicators and can hold the attention of the room.
This is important if you’re going for a management role, you’ll be expected to be assertive when being in charge of people.
#28. Build rapport
Building rapport is important, this can be achieved through correct body language and answering the questions clearly and concisely.
Without getting too personal find common ground, they’re be trying to build rapport with you anyway. However we’re all different, you may not click, but be professional, you don’t have to like them, you just have to impress them.
#29. End the interview well
End the interview positively, by asking the right questions, you can ask about the next step in the process. This could be an appropriate time for a bit of chit chat, to find common ground and leave on a high note.
This is as important as the first impression, it will leave a good lasting impression on them. Thank them for the opportunity and for their time.
#30. After the interview
As a polite gesture send a thank you email, include your personal details. Even if the job wasn’t right for you they may contact you with recommendations.
Don’t assume this is the end of it, there could be another opening in the future.
Remember: interviews can be highly competitive, with many people competing for the same job. If it doesn't go your way, don't beat yourself up, regret can be barrier to success or regret can be a learning tool.
Conclusion of “Job Interview Success”…
Interviews are highly stressful, with proper preparation and planning you will have a better chance at success.
If you take one thing away from this article, it’s that things do not always go perfectly, our worst critic is often ourselves, mistakes happen, the important thing is to respond to mistakes in the right way.
These tips will help you become better at interviews. Take action and use this advice, knowledge without action is just knowledge.
Job interviews are important, even life changing, so give yourself the best chance – prepare and practice to succeed at your next job interview. Goodluck.