Interview Tips: My best possible advice!

It's something we all go through at some point in our lives: job interviews. But what exactly is the purpose of them and what are my top tips for those looking for a new role. Read on for more!

Not so long ago, I recruited a position on behalf of a client for a new Office Manager, and during this process I was inspired to write this article. Not necessarily for the positive reasons! There were some terrible telephone interviews with potential candidates. It is, I guess a little like dating, you either click or you don’t and for those that I didn’t with there were some valid reasons as to why.

I’ve also recently seen CVs that are 13 and 15 pages long; who honestly has the time to read that much about one person when there are generally in excess of 100 applicants per role? I urge everyone reading this one to check your CV is 2-3 pages; in my view one just isn’t enough two is perfect, three is acceptable if it’s really well laid out and you have multiple areas of experience to refer to.

What’s the Point?

I've spoken to some, although very few, people in the past who find interviews “pointless” – I have never really understood this view but keen to know if you as a reader feel the same? For me, interviews are so much about delving deeper into someone’s CV which merely scratches the surface of who you are as a potential employee. And, for the job spec you see before applying, it’s much the same. It just gives you a taste of the job. So, both parties want to find out more about each other and if the two pieces of this jigsaw fit together nicely, or not.

Sure, interviews won’t tell you exactly if someone can 100%, without a shadow of a doubt do the job you need them to. And likewise, whether that company is just what you’ve been looking for. But it is a much more tried and tested method of finding out how close of a match you are for each other’s requirements. It’s a time to show case you and use this to build your career confidence and shout about your successes too – don’t forget the value that an interview can have on your own developmental journey.

There are different types of interviews and I believe it is key to be prepared well for each and every one. So, I have explored some of the common interview formats and shared some experiences and tips.

Telephone Interviews

1.      The best advice I was ever given when I started having telephone interviews many moons ago was to smile. It’s that simple – smile – for the entire time you are on the phone and your tone and manner will come across much warmer than if you’re not. And it is so true - try it! You get such a wonderful rush of happy energy and positivity flow through you when you smile too, and I feel like that energy can come through a call. It’s a proven fact that smiling makes you more approachable in person, and also encourages endorphins to help you feel good on the inside as well.

2.      When the interviewer asks you to elaborate on your most recent experience, please please don’t tell them to “look at my CV, it’s all on there” as this really doesn’t go down well, or at least this didn’t with me.

The reason a potential employer or agent may call you and ask you to expand on what we can see on paper is to hear you present yourself, see your passion for the role and what you do come to life and find out what may make you tick, what motivates you and dig a little deeper into your personality and potential fit for a company. We can definitely see your experience is relevant on paper (which is why we’ve called!) but we want to chat to you and find out more… this is a BIG no no.

3.      If you are invited to a telephone interview, turn up! I’ve had so many people no show and then text after and say “I had a missed call from you…?” when they had previously confirmed the time and date.

Virtual (Video) Interviews

1.      Dress for the occasion – it’s still an interview, you can still be seen. Make your appearance of that which you would be expected to dress for a face to face interview or for turning up to work. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to put on a shirt and tie, but more do your research on the company and how they dress and notch it up a level from there.

2.      When you’re on camera, it’s not just you they may be looking at. So, set your background in advance to what you’d like them to see. A plain wall may work perfectly, I am not such a fan of these virtual backgrounds in interviews as they can be distracting and you know that they’re not real so, to seem more authentic pop yourself in a room that has a clean, clear background that’s not too fussy, maybe with a plant or picture positioned there.

3.      Test, test and test again – do a call with a friend or family member before hand to ensure you have a solid connection, you can be heard well and have a good set up. The beautiful thing about doing it virtually is that you can still hide behind the screen a little in that, if you are nervous they may not see your sweaty palms so make the most of that and get as ready as you can in other areas. I’ve had people rely off only mobile networks recently during video interviews and it can be really disruptive and come across as being unprepared.

In Person (Face to Face) Interviews

1.      Preparation really is so important here as with all interviews. Only, I feel a little more so when you are going to their place of work. Get a small pack together, particularly if you are going for a role that requires you to be highly organised and proactive. In this pack can be your CV, the job spec, questions you have prepped, research you may have done and perhaps some evidence of previous work/projects. I call it my interview bible! It is also a bit of a safety net if you need to refer or fiddle with something part way through.

2.      Check the route and journey time and get there a little early. This one is obvious but so many people just don’t do it! Do a trial run if you need to, but with technology these days you can simply check an hour or so before you need to leave wherever you are to see what is going on with traffic/transport and adjust plans accordingly. Don’t arrive too early though, it can have the opposite effect in some cases as it can put pressure on the recruiter knowing you are sitting there waiting for 30 minutes before they have time to see you at the scheduled time. I would say 10 minutes is perfect, time to nip to the bathroom and tidy up/brush your hair one last time!

3.      Ask for a tour of the office if you can, and it’s not a confidential hire. I think particularly in our office management/admin profession, it is so key to see the environment that you may be working in. Remember that you are interviewing them just as much as they are you and the office will basically be your baby to manage. If you don’t get a good vibe it’s probably not for you so try to explore that a little.

What’s your interview experience? Do you have any good/bad stories to share? I’d love to hear from you and any top tips you have for others to learn from. 

For more tips, blogs and to view the services we offer at The Office Management Group please do get in touch on our website: www.theofficemanagementgroup.com