5 Tips for Succeeding in Interviews

Getting interviews but struggling to progress in your job applications? Feeling nervous about your job search? Getting back into the job market after some time? This article has some great tips that will help you excel in your next interview.

Take Time to Prepare

This may seem obvious; however, preparation is key. Not only will it help you feel more at ease, but it will show the interviewer your enthusiasm and understanding of the role.

Make sure you read the Job Description several times and isolate the key skills required of the position. This will then allow you to prepare answers that illustrate how you match those desired skills.

During Covid we saw an increase in remote interviews, and it looks like these are here to stay. To be best prepared, take time to set up your camera so it shows you fully facing the screen, and find a quiet spot with a plain background and plenty of light. Although this may not be an in-person interview, you should treat it in the same way. This includes how you dress, remember, it is always better to be over dressed than under dressed. First impressions count.

You may find it helpful to test drive any new technology such as Zoom or MS Teams, so you understand, for example, how to enable video and audio.

Research the Company

There are many useful tools to research about a company. A quick way would be to look at their website, but don’t forget great platforms such as LinkedIn that will give you even greater insight.

It may be helpful to handwrite any key details as this will later help you recall information.

Conduct an internet search for the contacts with whom you will be meeting – look at their LinkedIn for their role and their previous organisations as this can be useful to identify any common links or history.

Remember: It is better to have too much information than too little.

Understand the Type of Questions you May Encounter

Soft skills or interpersonal skill questions: Here the interviewer is trying to find out what kind of employee you would be, whether you are reliable and a good listener. Other key skills may include organisation, communication, teamwork, and punctuality.

Analytical skills: With these questions the aim is to uncover how you make decisions and find solutions in different scenarios. Again, have an example ready to explain.

Common questions could be around:

·       Flexibility

·       Technical knowledge / organisational skills

·       Teamwork / enthusiasm for working with others

·       Interpersonal skills

Always have real and specific examples to illustrate your ability to do the role.

Take Your Time

It is often better to allow a moment of silence while you gather your thoughts to best answer the question posed. By taking your time and taking a breath before answering you will be able to better get your point across and appear more confident.

Demonstrating an ability to get your message across well during the stress of a job interview showcases great communication skills which you would then be able to bring to the position.

Have Questions Ready

This is one of the most important things at any interview, to showcase your curious mind, your ability to think critically, and your interest in the role / firm.

Feel free to note down questions in advance and bring a neatly presented notebook with you to interview – this can show your keenness and preparation.

Example questions:

·       What are the [line manager’s] / team’s main priorities for this new hire?

·       What skills / attitude / behaviours have worked well in the past in this position?

·       As an employee, how could I exceed the firm’s expectations?

Tip: Avoid logistic based questions, for example questions around salary, working hours, holidays etc. These can be clarified later. Questions should underline your keenness on the role, not put-up barriers.