Five Interview Tips

​You’ve managed to secure an interview, well done, but now what? You obviously want to put your best foot forward and ensure your success. Here are my top five tips to make a great lasting impression and stand out from the crowd.

Dress Smart

Unless otherwise stated, you should always dress smart in business attire. Wear something you feel comfortable and confident in, but ironed, well groomed and looking your best. First impressions really do count. And yes this still counts if the initial meeting is via Zoom, it is still a job interview.

Do your research

Before the interview research the company, have a look at their website and social media pages, familiarise yourself with their products or services, team structure, affiliations, extra-curricular events or charities they may support or sponsor. Look at the LinkedIn and Company profiles of your interviewers, hiring managers and team, it is important to know their background and skills but also there could be a connection that you can mention in the interview. The more you know about them, the more this will come across in your responses.

Prepare for common questions

Most interviews will include some standard questions and it is great to be prepared. For many people under pressure their mind can go blank, so having some responses already prepared will assist with this. Most recruiters will let you know the format of the interview or the interviewing style of the hiring manager, but if you have applied direct don’t be afraid to ask beforehand.

Most interviewers will include some behavioural or competency based questions, for example can you tell me a time when you had to deal with a challenging customer and how you dealt with this. Prepare some really good examples that you can call on.

If you have been provided with a Job Description, make sure you have thoroughly read through this and understand all the responsibilities and requirements, again with strong examples of when you have done this in a previous role.

Prepare some intelligent questions

At the end of most interviews you will be asked if you have any questions. Remember, it is as much about you finding out if they are a good fit for you, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you have done your research, this is a great chance to showcase your knowledge and interest in them as a company. Have they recently been in the press, is there something on their website you are keen to know more about, delve more into the team and the fit or ask about career paths and opportunities for progression.

Show your interest

Always thank the interviewers for their time at the end of the interview. If you are interested in the opportunity, then let them know you would be keen to progress. Ask about timeframes, next steps, when you can expect to hear from them again.

Preparation really is key to a successful interview. The more prepared you are, the more confident you will feel and this will come across. If you have an interview coming up, then good luck. If you are interested in exploring opportunities in the market then don’t hesitate to get in contact for a confidential conversation.