Where excellent cv's are found...Successful Interview Techniques
| How to win at your Interview |
Interviews are like first dates. Exactly like first dates, if fact, as both require a degree of honest disclosure from both parties and both serve to act as an introduction to the capabilities and unique selling-points of each side.
Interviews can be a daunting experience and, after a CV has been submitted, serve as literally the first line of defence to potential recruiters. Employers need to ensure that the person they hire will provide a positive contribution to their business interests. Someone that will be able to perform a vital function that they cannot automate or outsource to someone else.
The following aims to help you succeed at your interview and prove to the person interviewing you that you have what it takes to help move their business forward.
Be Prepared
There is nothing more important than confidence in an interview. Interviewers need to be able to imagine you in the job role that you are applying towards and imagining an unconfident person performing vital duties will not make a favourable impression on your part. Put simply, the more you prepare for your interview, the more confident you will both be and appear. To this end, interviewees need to ensure that they do the following:
Arrive at the venue on time and unaided.
This sounds simple enough but you would be surprised how many people get lost and phone in for directions, or arrive late. You should be focused on ways to sell yourself on the way to the interview, not on how to actually find the place. Do your research before-hand and make sure you know exactly where the interview will take place and how to get there on time. Being late or getting lost will only make you more nervous!
Appear presentable and business-like
You need to ensure that you convey the fact that you mean business at your interview. Wearing smart clothing such as a suit will do three things for you. Firstly, looking good will make you feel more confident and you will perform better. Secondly, the person interviewing you will feel like you have made an effort and are not only serious about the job, but are willing to make to do what it takes to succeed. Thirdly, the interviewer will be imagining a professional-looking person in the position, as opposed to someone who doesn’t even bother to look after their appearance.
Know, if possible, the name of the interviewer
There is nothing more detrimental to your confidence than arriving at reception and announcing yourself, only to be asked by the receptionist who they should contact to inform of you arrival. If the receptionist has to ask around on your behalf you will have made a bad first impression before you have even met the person who will be interviewing you and your confidence will probably suffer as a result.
Have everything you need for the interview
Even if you are not asked to, you should always bring a copy of your CV with you. Additionally, you should ensure that you have all the documents the interviewer requires which may include an application form of some type, your passport, copies of your relevant certificates, and so on. Never have to ask for a pen, always bring your own.
Research the business/organisation
Recruiters need to see that you have taken an interest in the position that you are being interviewed for as well as the organisation within which it will fall. It is now more easier than ever to research a potential employer as most businesses today have websites available over the internet. Get to know who you will be working for and how your role will fit into the overall organisation. Formulate a few questions to prove you have researched and taken an interest in the business.
Imagine potential questions and have the answers for them
There are a few questions which you are guaranteed to be asked, especially those relating to your qualifications, work experience and previous job role. These provide you with an easy opportunity to score a favourable impression as you will be able to spend as much time as you like before-hand coming up with good, consistent answers which will sell your potential. Interviewees often find themselves in a vicious circle, the more questions they cannot answer effectively, the more nervous and unconfident they will become, and consequently even easy questions will present obstacles to them. Don’t let this happen to you - prepare for as many questions and types of questions as possible and use them as opportunities to sell yourself and your abilities/potential contributions.
Make your Body Language work for you
Often what you do not say and how you do not say it is more important in an interview than the actual words which come out of your mouth. Experienced interviewers will sometimes ask seemingly ridiculous questions (such as what time is it at present in a certain country?) purely to see how you will react under pressure. They want to see how you physically react under pressure (as well as your reasoning behind your answer).
- Appearing comfortably relaxed is the best way to convey your confidence in yourself and your abilities.
- On meeting your interviewer, offer to shake hands as soon as is reasonably possible and make sure your hand shake is firm and strong.
- Sit comfortably on your chair and do not either slouch (and appear too relaxed) or sit on the edge of your seat (and appear too nervous).
- Limit the use of hand-movements while talking to only appropriate occasions. Do not fiddle around but also do not appear stiff. Let your movements flow naturally.
- Smile as much as possible but only when appropriate.
- Make eye contact with the interviewer, but avoid staring at him or her. Simply try to imagine that you are talking to one of your friends.
Remember that the aim is to establish and maintain a mutually beneficial conversion between yourself and the interviewer. It is your opportunity to sell yourself and highlight the reasons why the interviewer should ultimately decide that you are the right person for the job as opposed to the numerous other people who have been interviewed before you or will be interviewed after you.
Avoid providing the interviewer with “yes” or “no” answers (like a robot). You need to allow your personality to shine through as much as possible when given the opportunity to speak.
Avoid talking too much or simply to fill silences. Keep your words to the point and remember that a silence during this type of “date” is not uncomfortable but a chance for both parties to reflect on what has been said. You do not want to interrupt your interviewer’s thought-processes!
Remember that you are being given the opportunity to sell yourself. When answering a question, try and give past examples and always focus on why you are right for the job. Every question that is asked by the interviewer is relevant no matter how strange it may appear to you. Use every question to prove your worth.
Ask relevant questions only. While the interviewer may say outright to ask whatever you want, you need to realise that everything you say in the interview can and will be held against you and if you ask a question purely for the sake of it, the interviewer will probably hold it against you. You need to use your opportunities to ask questions to demonstrate your interest in the organisation concerned.
If you are not exactly sure what an interviewer has asked you or requires in your answer, rather clarify exactly what the question involves as opposed to stumbling your way through not really knowing what you are saying or why you are saying it.
When asking a question, make sure you do not interrupt the interviewer. Listen to what is said and remember that you are having a conversation which involves the input and output of both parties. At the same time, however, don’t let the interviewer talk over you. You need to prove your confidence and determination to succeed at all times and this includes showing a degree of dominance in the conversation.
Examples of Questions and Answers
Describe yourself?
Unsuccessful Answer: “I work hard. I believe I have what your company is looking for in an employee. I achieved good results at school/university.”
Successful Answer: “In my last role as a (name role), my duties involved (specify exactly what was involved) and I achieved the following results (specify results) and, as a result, my manager confirmed that for the following reasons (specify reasons) he/she believed that I was a hard working employee. My extensive experience in (describe relevant experience) combined with the following personal qualities (list qualities: good time-management, conscientiousness, etc) leads me to believe that I will be successful in (the job you are applying for) for these reasons (list reasons). At university I achieved the following results (describe results and academic achievements) which are relevant to your organisation for the following reasons (list reasons) and I also took a keen interest in (describe interests: sporting, artistic, social, etc).
How would your manager and work colleagues describe you?
Unsuccessful Answer: They would probably say that I work hard and get everything done that I need to. They would say that I am friendly and easy to get along with and work well as part of a team or on my own.
Successful Answer: Last week one of my colleagues asked me to help him with (describe task). I was able to guide him through this task by (describe how). As a result he is now able to complete such tasks on his own and I received an award from my manager as a result (describe award: a thank you, a bonus, etc). Additionally, I was once given an urgent assignment by my manager (describe assignment) which had to be completed by (describe deadline). I did the following to ensure that I completed this task by the deadline (give details) and, as a result, my manager sent me a personal email which said the following (describe email).
What can you offer this company?
Unsuccessful Answer: I really want the job so I am determined to succeed and I will give of my best at all times. I am intelligent and I work hard and you will see the results.
Successful Answer: Your company is focused on the following (give details: customer satisfaction, quality, etc) and in this regard I have the following attributes (give details). In my last position I used these attributes to (give examples) and as a result the company benefited in the following ways (give details).
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Unsuccessful Answer: In five years I see myself as a manager in a much larger organisation as I would have rapidly progressed through your company. I may even have started my own company myself.
Successful Answer: In five years I plan to have progressed to (name position) as a result of gaining the following experience and qualifications (describe) and achieving the following results (accurately describe). I will have proven my continuing worth and value to your company by (give details).
What are your weaknesses?
Unsuccessful Answer: I am sometimes a little disorganised but I always get the work done on time. I see this an advantage because it helps remind me to work hard at all times and keeps me on my toes.
Successful Answer: I prioritise organisation and effective time management, and these are areas where I am continually striving for improvement in terms of my own work performance. In this regard, I always feel that I can do better.
Why did you leave your last job?
Unsuccessful Answers:
I left to seek new challenges and gain more skills.
I wanted more money because I believe that my contributions were undervalued.
Successful Answers:
In my previous role I was required to (specifically describe) and this often left me wanting more involvement in the areas of (give details). I felt that I needed to gain more skills for the purposes of my career development which I believe your organisation can offer to me within the specific context of the role advertised as it would lead to the following (give details).
I felt that because of the experience and skills that I had amassed so far through (give details) that I could make better use of this experience to add more value to a company in the following ways (give details) and be better challenged and compensated as a result.
How to exit the interview
For many people the end of an interview is a time of relief. You need to remember, however, that the interview is not over until you are no longer within eyesight or earshot of anyone associated with the potential employer. Interviewers will frequently ask their own colleagues what they thought of you even if you did not meet them. Don’t let it seem as though you are running to escape the building. Leave quietly, making sure that you thank your interviewer and anyone else involved for their time, then say goodbye. Say goodbye to the receptionist as well (if applicable) and try to leave with a smile on your face. Leave as confidently as you arrived.
Many people suggest sending a thank you communication after the interview to further convey your interest in the position. There is mixed thought as to the merits of this and I would suggest you consider this in line with my introduction. Would you send a thank you card to a potential partner after your first date?
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Successful interview techniques in London and the UK.