Interview Techniques

So you have tweaked and tailored your CV and your consultant has got you the interview with a great local company for the job of your dreams. So far so good, however once you are at the interview it is all down to you.

 

Here are some interview tips and techniques to make sure that all that hard work doesn’t go to waste.

 

1. Research as much as you can about the company – products, services, markets, competitors, trends, current activities, priorities.

 

2. Prepare your answers for generic interview questions you’ll likely be asked, such as, be able to say why you want the job, what your strengths are, how you prioritise workload, what your best achievements are. If you want advice on the types of questions most commonly asked, please get in touch.

 

3. Prepare good questions to ask at the interview. Don’t make these about salary, holiday, or sickness absence! It is always good to ask about subjects like ongoing training and development, what they are looking for in a candidate, what they personally enjoy most about working for the company. Make sure it seems like you have thought about the questions and the role.

 

4. If you are provided with the names of the managers interviewing you, try to look them up on LinkedIn. It may make you feel calmer knowing the background of the people you’re meeting.

 

5. Make sure your CV is up to date and you have read through it. The interviewer will ask questions relating to your CV so you want to know what it says.

 

6. Review your professional goals and be able to speak openly and honestly about them and how you plan to achieve them.

 

7. If you’re nervous beforehand try listening to some calming music on your way to the interview and take some deep breaths. The interviewer won’t mind that you’re nervous. Nerves mean you care !
8. Particularly think about how to deal positively with any negative aspects – especially from the perspective of telling the truth, instead of evading or distorting facts, which rarely succeeds.

 

9. Think about what to wear. If in doubt always err on the more formal side, however if you are going for a factory position for example, then a suit might seem out of place and give the impression you haven’t fully considered the position. Don’t be afraid to contact your recruitment consultant or the company themselves to find out about their general dress code.

 

10. Make sure you maintain good body language and eye contact throughout the interview, if it is a panel interview make sure you give equal attention to all those on the panel, don’t just focus on one because they seem the friendliest!

 

11. If you are still interested in the position at the end of the interview, don’t be afraid to tell the interviewer. All employers want people who are enthusiastic about working for them, so always thank them for the opportunity and tell them that you are keen to know what the next stage is.