Sometimes you can feel as though you’ll never get invited for an interview, so it’s easy to be unprepared when it does happen. The more effort and planning you can put in before you get that invitation, then the more likely you are to be successful in getting that job. To help you answer the question ‘Are you interview ready?’ we’ve put together a checklist of 20 actions to guide you through from start to finish.
Before the Interview
1. Do your research
– carefully read through all the information sent with the job application or from your recruitment agency
– if you have the names of the interviewers, search for them online so you can understand how they relate to the job you’re being interviewed for
– look at the website of the company or organisation
– use social media and news reports to find out if there are any significant things happening in the company
– finally, find out if you have any contacts who work there, or who might know someone who does, who could give you some insight into the company
2. Think about your strengths and weaknesses
– when you applied for the job, you’ll have thought about your strengths. Now you’re going to be interviewed, there are other aspects to consider
– from your research, think about how you might fit with the organisation’s culture
– above all, identify your weaknesses and areas for development. This is a very common interview question, and one most people find difficult to answer. Also, if you’ve thought about your weaknesses beforehand, this means that you can explain to the interviewer how you’re planning to address these. This makes your answer turn from a negative to a positive
3. Write down questions to ask at interview
– when you ask questions it shows that you’re interested in the company and the job
– try to think of questions that the interviewer might not have already answered. These could relate to the job, the team you’d be working in, the interviewer’s perspective on the role and what it’s like to work for the company, the company itself, training and development
– remember that the interview is a 2-way process. It’s not just about the employer finding out about you, it also helps you to find out if this would be the right job for you
– in addition, be aware of the impact your questions could have on the impression the interviewer is getting of you. Avoid asking questions such as how much holiday you’ll get, or what the notice period is!
4. Decide what to wear
– try to find out what’s appropriate for that company. Some organisations might favour smart casual over more formal clothing
– if in doubt, it’s better to be too smart, than not smart enough
– even if you’re doing a telephone interview, it’s a good idea to wear ‘work’ clothes because it’ll help put you in the right mindset
– for a video interview, don’t be tempted to only dress smartly on the top half of your body, just in case you need to stand up for any reason during the meeting
5. Make sure you know how to get to your interview
– if the interview is face to face, make sure you know where to go, decide on how you’ll get there and how long it will take. Build in some extra time in case you get delayed. Don’t arrive at the interview more than 10 minutes early as this can be quite irritating for the interviewer
– if the interview is virtual, make sure you have everything set up at home in good time and you have a contact number for the interviewer in case anything goes wrong
6. Develop a positive mindset
– going into an interview with a positive and enthusiastic approach is very important. You could be the perfect person for the job, but if you can’t sell yourself to the interviewer that could affect your chances of being offered the job. Remember that you’ve beaten possibly hundreds of other candidates to get an interview, therefore the employer already thinks that you have something to offer their organisation
– if you haven’t had an interview for a while, it can help to practice with a mock interview so that you can try out answers to questions and discover the areas where you need to do more preparation
On the Day of the Interview
7. Remind yourself about your application
– read through your application form so the information you put in it is fresh in your mind
– scan through your CV as well so you have the key points of your work history and achievements to hand
8. Prepare for a face to face interview
– make sure you have allowed enough time to travel to the location
– have a contact number in case there’s a problem
– take a copy of your CV and application form; and your list of questions with you
9. Prepare for a virtual interview
– find a quiet room where you can close the door and you won’t be disturbed
– choose a neutral background which means the interviewer won’t be distracted by what’s behind you
– finally, check any equipment is working properly and join the meeting at least 5 minutes before the actual start time
The Interview
10. Create a good first impression
– remember the saying that you never get a second chance to create a first impression. An interviewer will make a judgement on everything about you, not just your answers to the formal questions
– greet the interviewer with confidence and enthusiasm
– everyone you have contact with from the company will be forming an opinion of you, so try to make a good impression on them as well
11. Start the beginning of the interview well
– expect to have some small talk before the interview starts. This will all contribute to the interviewer’s assessment of you
– don’t take too long to settle down and be ready to start. Your interview time is precious, therefore make every minute count
12. Consider things other than the questions
– be aware of body language. Yours should be open (no crossed arms) and as relaxed as possible. Watch the interviewer’s body language, because you can get some clues from this about how well you’re answering the questions
– time management is very important. There’ll usually be a set time for each interview, with no option to run over. If there are going to be 6 questions, don’t spend half your time answering the first one, and then have to rush through the rest
13. Answer the questions asked
– really listen to each question and don’t have any preconceived ideas about what you think should be asked. Ask the interviewer to explain a question if you don’t understand it
– if there are competency based questions, make sure you give specific examples to demonstrate your answer
– always give an answer that shows how you personally contributed to a situation and the benefit of that
14. Avoid your mind going blank
– if your mind goes blank, don’t panic just take a moment to think
– you can ask the interviewer to repeat the question to buy some time to recover. Make a note of the question, so you don’t have to try to remember it
– don’t let one negative moment influence the rest of the interview
15. End the interview on a positive note
– ask your prepared questions, making sure you don’t ask something that the interviewer has already told you about
– make sure you understand next steps and timescales
After the Interview
16. Give feedback to your recruitment consultant, if you have one
– contact them as soon as possible after the interview to update them on what went well, and on any areas where you felt you weren’t so strong
– make sure they know that you’re still enthusiastic about the job and working for that company. As they’ll be representing you to the employer, you want them to have a positive impression of you
17. Send a thank you email if you’ve been interviewed directly
– as soon as you can after the interview, if you have the interviewer’s contact details, send them an email expressing your interest. Or send the email to the person who arranged the interview and ask them to pass this on to the recruiting manager
– this will let your potential employer know that you’re positive about working for them, and show that you’re a proactive person
18. Make sure you’re easily contactable by phone or email
– check your phone and emails regularly
– respond as soon as you can to any message from your recruiter or potential employer
19. Follow up
– if you haven’t had a response from your recruitment agency or your potential employer at the agreed time, send them an email to ask for an update
– this will let them know that you’re still interested in the job and show that you’re a proactive person
20. Manage the outcome of the interview
– if you’re offered the role, make sure that you’re happy with the terms of the contract, and agree your salary before you formally accept the offer
– if you’re unsuccessful, ask for feedback on why you weren’t offered the job, and use this to help you prepare for future interviews
Have you found these tips useful? If you’d like to organise a mock interview, or improve your interview technique, please get in touch.
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