Congratulations! You’ve got an interview, you’ve obviously impressed thus far and are worth considering taking to the next step. So now you’re here – what things do you need to remember? This may be your first interview, you may have just graduated and this is your first graduate job interview – but regardless of what it is for, these 10 tips will help you prepare for the main event…
1. Preparation is key
Be Prepared. Research the company, the sector, the job role – learn as much as you can about the job you are going for, how you can relate your previous experiences to the role. Do your research on the company and the interviewer beforehand. You should know next to everything about the place you’re applying for, except maybe the National Insurance numbers of the builders who built the office. And if you know who’s going to interview you, definitely LinkedIn-stalk them (without adding them to your network). Know the lingo: read and reread the job posting. Highlight key buzz words they’re using, and then organically incorporate those words into your interview spiel.
2. Print out (multiple copies of!) your CV the night before
No excuses about the printer, this is a job where organisation proves you’re capable. Also: A one-page CV, no employer wants to sieve through pages and pages. Keep it relevant and precise.
3. Give yourself a big old cushion of time to get there
Running around in heels, cursing at yourself and spilling coffee on your suit is never a good idea…
4. Don’t ramble
If the interviewer asks you an open-ended question (for instance, the dreaded “So tell me about yourself!”) he/she is aiming to discover how you operate in an unstructured environment. Here, you can refer to a popular interview hack called the STAR Technique.
Situation: Open with a brief description of the Situation and context of the story (who, what, where, when, how).
Task: Explain the Task you had to complete highlighting any specific challenges or constraint (eg deadlines, costs, other issues).
Action: Describe the specific Actions that you took to complete the task. These should highlight desirable traits without needing to state them (initiative, intelligence, dedication, leadership, understanding, etc.)
Result: Close with the result of your efforts. Include figures to quantify the result if possible
5. Don’t bullshit
When you get to “What’s your biggest weakness?” or “What’s an example of an issue you’ve had with a co-worker,” answers like “I’m a perfectionist!” or “I’ve never had an issue with a coworker!” are simply overused cliches.
6. Practice makes perfect and be careful with your body language
While, say, hair-twirling or finger tapping is obvious, there are smaller nervous ticks that you should be avoiding too. Leg-jiggling, for one thing. Even nodding too much as he/she is speaking — which is more common for women than men — should be avoided. It’s irritating, and it shows that you are nervous. Practice doing an interview with friends, family or with an advisor at a career centre.
7. Send follow-up thank you emails to everybody you met with
8. Do a social media cleanse
Before you start interviewing, give yourself a few weeks to do a social media cleanse. Treat yourself as if you’re running for prime minister. Anything you’re hesitant about, take it down. Even when you’ve changed your settings to private — which you should —a ssume anyone can see what you’re posting.
9. Dress professionally
A lot of companies go for casual dress these days. But always dress professionally for an interview. Show your personality with perhaps a statement necklace or something small – oh and never ever show up in sky-high heels.
10. Consider everything a test
Your interviewer is texting, talking to co-workers walking in and out of the office—basically ignoring you. Consider any difficult scenario during your interview a test. Stay positive, focused and act like everything’s normal.
Finally… be prepared and you’ll ace it – good luck!
