Interviewing for a position can be nerve-wracking. A lot of time and effort may have already been poured into the process by way of lengthy applications and pre-interview calls.
As a candidate, you don’t want to get to the head of the queue only to let nerves or a lack of preparation undermine your chances of landing the role.
Here we’ll discussing the top ten interview skills we encourage our candidates to master. These are applicable to all interviews including competency-based, video, group and biographical styles. We’ll be delving into each style in more detail in a later blog, but for now, let’s lock in the basics.
Preparation for the Logistics
It’s an obvious one, but preparation involves far more than just reading the company’s “About Us” page and hoping for the best. As a candidate who’s made it to the top of the pile out of a potential list of hundreds, don’t let yourself down by not taking the time to think about the logistics.
For an in-person meeting, you need to consider:
· Travel arrangements
· Alternative travel arrangements
· The weather and your attire
· Any printing you need to do
· What equipment you need (if presenting, for example)
· Food and drink
It sounds like a lot to consider- possible even overkill, but let’s think about it…
If you’re driving and you wake up to a flat tyre, you’ll love yourself for also checking the train timetable as a backup. If it’s pouring with rain or boiling hot, walking may not be possible, and you will need to think about suitable clothes. Don’t print your CV or other materials the night before- your printer will most likely not play ball and leave you in a panic. Is your laptop charged and ready to tether to your phone for easy internet access? When will you eat? No one needs a fainting candidate, least of all you.
Do Your Research
You are almost certainly going to be asked specific questions about your potential employer, so make sure you've done your homework. Most candidates will read the homepage of the website and leave it at that.
Make sure you go one step further.
Look up their last year's profits and latest product launches, find out how they’ve evolved since starting up. Read a few of their blogs to get a feel for their personality. Have a snoop through their social media to get an idea of what they’re currently pushing and to get a glimpse of the current team. You may even get an idea of what to wear if a dress code hasn’t been specified.
If you’re on LinkedIn (which you should be), follow their company page and give some of their posts a ‘like’. If you have connections in common with anyone in the team, you could ask for an introduction so you can get connected and maybe ask for some info on what the interview was like for them etc.
Based on your research, plan out 5 questions to ask the interviewer when your meeting comes to a close. This is so important and can be used as a way to highlight why you’re great for the company- more on that in a mo.
Consider Your First Impression
Once the logistics and your company research are covered, you’re then free to focus on the interview itself. We all know that a great first impression is important, but it really can make or break an interview.
Studies show that an employer tends to decide whether they will hire you within the first 7 minutes of meeting you. They may be meeting with several people in one day- make sure you’re memorable for the right reasons!
Dressing appropriately and being confident in your appearance is certainly part of this, but mostly because it will affect your confidence. Confidence is what people see first; though your body language, your expression and your demeanour.
Arrive 5 mins early (no earlier, no later), consider your body language from the moment you enter the building and be courteous and friendly to everyone you meet. Open, attentive body language includes relaxed shoulders with arms not folded across your body, not slouching and looking ‘ready’. Make eye contact and smile when you’re spoken to.
When you meet your interviewer, make sure to immediately offer a firm handshake, make eye contact, and smile- and don’t forget to breathe…
Remain Calm
Your interviewer is only a human and will be expecting a certain level of nervousness from you. They may well be nervous too! Take some deep breaths before you go in and breathe slowly while listening to their questions.
Remember the 3 Cs for speaking during an interview:
· Clearly
· Calmly
· Concisely
Interviewers won’t expect you to answer questions with an immediate, perfect response, that’s not natural! Feel free to pause while you consider your answer and take a deep breath before responding. The quality of answer is more important than speed.
Remain Positive
Tempting as it may be to explain in detail why your previous bosses were the devil, the interview is not the time to do so. If you’ve had less than ideal working relationships that led you to leave certain positions, saying something along the lines of “our values didn’t align” may be safer…
Any gaps in your CV should be explained honestly while highlighting the skills gained during those periods. Any unenjoyable roles should be listed with the knowledge acquired, not a list of complaints about the situation. Interviewers want to hire people who will bring positivity, problem solving abilities and resilience to the company. Make sure you remain positive throughout the interview and don’t fall into any traps to bad-mouth a previous employer.
Ask Questions
You should always have some questions prepared to ask your interviewer, as it demonstrates your interest in the position. Prepare a minimum of 5:
· 2 about the job itself
· 1 about the culture of the company
· 2 about the goals of the company
Keep your questions focused on what you can do for the employer. For example, if your goal is to move from the position you’re applying for into a leadership role, you could ask what their training structure is like for team leaders. This shows your interest in growth while also giving them a chance to talk about their great policies.
Salary Expectations
Salary discussions are an unavoidable part of the hiring process. We don’t recommend bringing this up in the interview, but sometimes the interviewer may start the conversation, so you should be prepared.
You should have an idea of the salary range on offer from the job description. For some companies, this is set in stone. For others, it’s a ball park. For a few, it may be a jumping off point.
No matter what the circumstance, make sure you've done your research on the current market rate for the role and the skills and experience you bring to the table. Set yourself a realistic goal based on that research.
It's always advisable to aim slightly higher in initial discussions so you can negotiate down- but only once you’ve been offered the job.
End Things on a Good Note
When your interview comes to a close, remember to thank the interviewer for their time and let them know it was great to meet them. If you’ve got on well and you feel relaxed, snapping out of interview mode and making some small talk can show confidence and personality. Ask them if they have any good plans for the weekend, for example.
After the Interview
Consider emailing afterwards to thank them once again and reiterate your interest in the position. If you feel it went well, now might be a good time to head back to LinkedIn (making sure your profile is up to date and sings your praises) and connect with senior members of the team, including your interviewer.
If you’re not offered the role, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback on your performance. This will show that you’re open to developing your skills or your interview technique and may mean they keep you in mind.
If you are offered the role, take a moment to pause and think before sending your acceptance and opening the discussions around salary and benefits etc. Once that’s all ironed out, you can celebrate!
The Don'ts!
Avoid these errors at all costs:
· Arriving late.
· Being inappropriately dressed (don’t be afraid to ask for the dress code if it’s not made clear).
· Smelling strongly of perfume/aftershave/smoke, and never alcohol!
· Using slang words or swearing, even if it feels comfortable enough to do so!
· Looking disinterested- nervousness can sometimes translate to the onlooker as being disinterested.
· Lying! You will inevitably be found out.
· Allowing nerves to take over. If you think this is happening, admit it to your interviewer. They will no doubt support you and it will clear the air.
· Being arrogant.
· Discussing controversial topics or voicing strong opinions.
· Criticising former employers or colleagues.