There are countless ways you can invest your time before and after a job interview that can help determine the final outcome of a ten-minute conversation.
How to prepare for an interview
Beforehand, think ‘knowledge is power’. Research the company’s general history, its structure, its locations, its competition. Look into any recent news about the company or any current affairs/political news that could potentially impact on the company (at time of writing, two considerations that are guaranteed to get you some brownie points are COVID and Brexit, but these will change). Try to find out who will be interviewing you as this can help you predict the kinds of questions you might be asked.
Rest assured that Summerley Recruitment can help you with all of the above.
Go the extra mile!
If you want to go the extra mile, consider ‘secret-shopper’ mode; visit the place of work – if it’s a café, go and get a cup of coffee and use this experience to identify ways that you, specifically, could help improve the business. Most important, however, is to practise your interview. Rope in your partner, your mum, your gran, your dog, or your next-door neighbour; whoever has a spare ten minutes to fire some questions at you. Yes, you do have to get dressed up even if you’re practising in your front room; all of this helps you stay “in character” on the big day, and helps your answers trip off the tongue a little more easily.
Oh, and make sure you’re on time; plan that journey, practise it if necessary, and factor in delays. If you’re going to be late, call ahead and tell them… BUT DON’T BE LATE.
Question Time
Back to the interview itself – it’s all about questions. Both the ones you’re asked, but also the ones you choose to ask back. The questions you are asked will vary vastly depending on the type and level of the role you’re interviewing for, but some general tips prevail.
Answer questions as fully as you can, avoiding yes or no answers, and backing up what you say with concrete and experienced examples where possible. Having said that, there’s value in being concise; don’t ramble, answer the question you’re being asked, don’t go off-piste. If you don’t understand a question, politely ask your interviewer to reword it and, if you then realise that you don’t know the answer, put your hands in the air and admit to it. It’s better to confess self-aware ignorance than to stumble your way through a fake answer that you’re crafting on the spot; employers will spot this a mile off and would much rather you demonstrated an awareness of the gaps in your own knowledge.
When you inevitably get to the much dreaded ‘what are your greatest weaknesses?’ question, self-awareness triumphs once more: consider your answer beforehand, and give examples of how you’re working to improve. Pick tactically though; if you’re going for a bartending job, ‘I suck at pouring pints’ may be a tad too honest. Play smart.
Questions for the interviewer
Similarly inevitable is the wrap-up question: ‘do you have any questions for us?’ The answer is always a resounding yes; it helps you seem engaged, interested, and invested. Once again, you must pick wisely. Asking about salary and hours is fine, it shows you’re focused on the lived-experience of the job. However, don’t ask what you should have already gathered from the job-ad or your research; you’ll come across (at worst) as lazy and (at best) forgetful. Certainly don’t ask for an increase on the advertised salary; there’ll be plenty of time for that down the line. If you want some questions to ask that will make you seem a curious, committed, and altogether attractive prospect, try asking them about their ambitions for the company in the coming year, and how you can help them get there.
What to do after an interview
After the event, it’s important to relax, decompress, and let your hair down. However, there’s still time for a couple more tricks that can make all the difference. If you applied direct then be sure to call or email the organisation, tell them how much you enjoyed and were grateful for being part of the process, regardless of how well you think it went. If you went via an agency then speak to your recruitment consultant there to find out how you did.
This can also be a perfect opportunity to ask for feedback; people who are willing to take criticism, both good and bad, then use it to improve make for fantastic employees. Finally, for the more tech-savvy among you, find a way to subtly ‘pop-up’ on their social media, even if it’s just by liking a post. This is an easy, convenient, low-risk way of making sure that your name keeps echoing in the minds of your interviewer for days to come.
Is that everything?
To say ‘just be yourself’ over-simplifies the process and implies your personality will carry you through, which isn’t usually the case. However, being the most professional, most well-prepared, and most confident version of yourself is very much achievable.
If you take the time to follow these steps, not only will you help yourself appear cool, calm, and collected, but you’ll create the headspace and atmosphere in which a little more of your personality, individuality, and USPs can be communicated to the interviewer.
Very best of luck, and please, don’t be late.
Do you need some more tips? Here is our guide to what to wear and more ideas how to prepare for an interview.
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