Interview Tips

Have a look at some of the interview tips down below.

So you’ve applied for a job and have been invited for an interview? First of all, congratulations! Second of all. Stay here and read our interview tips so that you can do well and get the job…

If it’s a group interview you’ve been invited for. We’ve written a whole blog post with our tips and tricks for group interviews, which might also help.

Before:

Hopefully, you will have an idea of what the company does and what the job entails before you apply for the job. But if not it is definitely worth doing your research into these things before stepping into an interview. In countless interviews, candidates will go in blind. And it doesn’t give a great impression to the company if you haven’t got a clue what they do. This can simply be searching for the company on Google and reading some of their websites. Or if it’s a big company even reading their Wikipedia page. This just shows that you are actually interested in the job. Rather than just going for the sake of it.

Ready on the day:

When getting ready for the day. Make sure you look presentable and dress appropriately for the job you have applied for. Also, make sure you get there on time. Turning up slightly early (about 10 mins) shows that you can keep time and organise yourself.

Also, if for some reason you can’t make it to the interview. Make sure that you contact the company and let them know, either to cancel or reschedule – this gives a better impression of you when being considered for this job or future jobs than if you just don’t show up.

During:

Make sure that you smile and shake the hand of your Interviewer(s) – be positive and friendly even if you are nervous. Similarly, keep your body language open, try not to sit with your arms crossed or fidget around too much or you may look disinterested.

Obviously:

Obviously, the way you act and the way you answer questions will differ according to the job you have applied for, but there are a few common questions that may be asked so preparing answers for those questions could help you on the day. Often you will be asked about your strengths and weaknesses, or about why you want to work for that company (which is when your previous research comes in handy). Always be honest, lying will get you nowhere and you will probably get found out at some point.

As well as:

As well as this, it is important that if/when the Interviewer asks if you have any questions, you ask one. If you don’t ask anything you can come across as disinterested, so go in with at least one question to ask. Your question could include:

• How will my success within the role be measured?
• Are there any plans for expansion within the company?
• What can I expect from your company when it comes to development/support?
• What is your staff turnover like?

After:

To stop yourself from desperately waiting for a phone call or checking your emails every 2 minutes, make sure that you ask what the process is and when you can expect to hear from them.

It’s polite to send a follow up email thanking the Interviewer(s) for their time. This shows that you are grateful for their time and genuinely interested in the position, and could also bring you back to the forefront of the Interviewer’s mind if they have interviewed others after you.

If you are a candidate, I really hope that our interview tips have helped and that you feel more confident about your upcoming interview! If you are an employer and are looking for tips and tricks when conducting interviews, you can download our handy Interview Cheat Sheet!

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