Eliminate competition and get the job of your dreams with these interview tips
Great News! You’ve just received a call and have secured yourself an interview! The company loved your CV and are keen to speak with. You are exited but possibly apprehensive too. Now is the time to prepare for the interview and give yourself the best chance of success.
Here are my basic but very effective tips on how to get the job you want.
Prepare for every interview stage thoroughly.
Lots of people make a mistake thinking first stage interviews are just an informal chat about your background. In reality it is a full blown interview with competency questions and technical questions. Don’t take any chances. Even if the recruiter tells you this is an informal interview, it still pays to be prepared. Find out about the company and who is interviewing you. Make sure you know your CV inside out and be prepared to answer any competency or technical questions based on the job description.
The questions below get frequently asked at interview. Make sure you have answers ready. It will put you at ease and you can adjust them if they get asked in a slightly different way.
- What is your understanding of the position you are applying for?
- What interested you in the company and the position?
- What transferable skills can you bring to this role?
- Do you have any development areas if you get this role?
- Can you give me a brief overview of your CV?
When researching the company use the Wikipedia to get an overview of the business and then use the company website to fill in the gaps.
Some company websites are very complex and not easy to navigate. Having a brief structure from Wikipedia can make your search much easier. Make sure you crosscheck the facts with the website, just in case Wikipedia is out of date.
Make sure it is your knowledge and experience that leaves the impression on the interviewers, not what you are wearing or how you present yourself.
Lots of people, especially the last few months are working from home and have adapted a more relaxed dress code. If you are having a virtual interview remember to smarten up. I have details tips on how to handle a virtual interview here.
Make sure you ask questions at the end of the interview.
Lots of people think they have nothing to ask and it doesn’t give a good impression and shows a lack of interest on your part. If you really think about it, would you not want to know these questions?
How big is the team? What is the business strategy going forward? Why is this role open? What are the expectation for the role? How does the role fit into the overall structure of the company?
These questions and more will help you identify if this is the right role for you. Avoid asking about promotions, compensation and anything that might leave the interviewers question your motivations for the role. You can ask these questions your recruiter after the interview.
Thank you for reading my blog. Hope these 5 tips will help you get through your interview easily. If you would like to read more about job and career search tips in 2020 please see here.