Top tips for your next interview!
Whether you’re a seasoned expert or just starting out in your career, interviews aren’t easy. Let’s be honest; nobody likes them and they do strange things to most of us!
We recently offered a few top tips on how to create a CV that’s sure to impress potential employees. To help combat these interview nerves, it’s a good idea to be prepared. So we decided to put together a few quick tips to help you dazzle your interviewer, and maybe even enjoy yourself along the way!
Practice your answers to avoid stumbling
It’s likely you’ll be anxious, that’s understandable. So it’s not a bad idea to think about some of the topics that might come up and consider how you could answer them. We’re not saying you should prepare a speech, you certainly don’t want to come across as rigid and rehearsed. But have a think about some of the points you want to make and how you can get from A to B in your answers without stumbling. Don’t try and shoe-horn in rehearsed statements to questions that don’t fit though! Make sure it’s relevant and feels natural.
Relax! Don’t be afraid to show off your personality
It can sometimes be hard to find the balance between being personal and professional, but the best piece of advice we can offer is just to relax! Don’t feel like you need to be stilted and overly corporate. Smile and try to just have a relaxed conversation. It’s just as important to show you can fit in as part of a team as it is to show off your impressive skills. The more relaxed you feel, the stronger your answers are likely to be.
Research the company
Knowing your stuff about the company you’re hoping to win a job with is an obvious, yet important tip. Try and learn the most relevant information possible. If you can clearly weave information about their current prospects into the conversation, as opposed to just shoe horning in facts and figures from five years ago, this is much more impressive.
Be honest about your experience
Don’t fall into the trap of embellishing your skills! It might be tempting to exaggerate some of your achievements, but it’s usually incredibly obvious to an interviewer. And there’s nothing worse than coming across as misleading in an interview – that’s a sure-fire way not to get the job. Instead, just be honest; talk about genuine successes. You’ll find it much easier to speak fluidly and get wrapped up in conversations about your honest experience.
Don’t be scared to speak up if you’re unsure about a question
We get it, in an interview you want to seem like an expert, so vocalising a lack of understanding about a topic might seem like a bad idea. But this isn’t necessarily true. Asking for clarity shows you’re not afraid to make sure you’re 100% clear before you proceed. In a real life work situation, it’s better to make sure you have a thorough understanding before you proceed with a task, and how you deal with this in an interview is a reflection of your approach to work.
Match your CV with the job specification
You should have been given a full job specification that outlines what your duties will be if you’re successful. A good way to prepare for your interview is to go through this and outline clear opportunities to link your CV to the job responsibilities. Demonstrating clear evidence of how your skills match with the duties you’ll be carrying out is a great way to show off your value.
Don’t bring up salary… but be prepared to discuss this if you’re asked!
We don’t need to tell you that it’s not a good idea to ask about salary, benefits, or holidays in your interview. However, it’s probably good to be prepared in case you're asked about it. You don’t need to have a concrete figure in mind, but if you know you’re not going to accept an offer lower than a certain amount – be honest! If you’re being asked outright, there’s no point in being shy here.
Make sure you have some questions prepared
We all know that when you’re asked if you have any questions, you’re expected to have something prepared. A lot of the time however, things you were going to ask may have been covered in the interview. So try preparing a few different questions so you definitely have something to ask at the end of your conversation. Good questions show that you’re keen, eager, and insightful.
At Progressive our consultants have built up excellent relationships with our clients and so we’re able to help guide you in your interview. We don’t just offer generic recruitment advice. Our relationships with hiring managers allows us to identify what questions are likely to be asked, what particular managers may want to hear, and can offer you the best tips to impress your interviewer! Get in touch with the team to find out more about our consultative, service.
