When it comes to nailing a job interview, leaving a lasting impression is key. Your interviewer should go home with no doubt in their mind that you’re the best person for the job.
Unfortunately, many job seekers crumble under pressure and rush their interview so they can get out the door as quickly as possible. Thinking about things ahead of time means you’ll stand out from the pack and won’t be left sitting there like a stunned mullet.
Preparation is key. When it comes to the perfect job search, the first step is to nail your CV. Make sure to perfect your resume with these 8 professional CV templates before prepping for your job interview.
Below are a few interview tips from our top recruiters so that you can close your next job interview with confidence.
Be in your own corner
Backing yourself is perhaps one of the most crucial tips for a job interview. If you believe you’re right for the job, you’ll soon have the interviewer believing it too. When it comes to the classic question, tell me about yourself, remember: this isn’t a blind date scenario. Don’t launch into your spiel about liking pugs and long walks on the beach. Speak about qualities which will make you perfect for the job. I’m tenacious, I’m always up for a challenge, I’m really self-motivated – and use examples from your life.
Always draw the conversation back to selling yourself. Let the interviewer know why you’re a better choice for the job than other candidates, and how comprehensively you’d be able to tackle the work required.
Be honest, authentic, and don’t be afraid to show some vulnerability
Firstly, it’s okay to admit to some less than perfect workplace behaviour. Egos clash, clients can be difficult, maybe you just don’t gel with someone in your team. It happens. It’s how you deal with it that can prove to the interviewer that you’re the one for the job.
You’ll inevitably be asked to explain how you worked through a challenging situation in the workplace. And for this, it’s handy to use the STAR approach.
S – think of an appropriate Situation;
T – asses the Task which cropped up within this situation; and
A – what Action was required to fix the problem?
R – the Result of the three steps you utilised above.
Research, research, research
Researching the company you’re hoping to land a job at pays off in a big way. You’ll appear like you give a damn, and that will help you stand out amongst the rest.
Some points to consider include:
- What does this company believe in and how does it strive to reach their goals day-to-day?
- How many countries/regions does it operate in?
- How long has it been in operation?
- Who is the CEO/founder and what’s their story?
Utilise LinkedIn, any relevant news stories and the company’s own website to get clued up.
Confirm your interest in the job
Sometimes it’s for the money. There’s nothing wrong with that, we’ve all got to eat. But that response isn’t going to do anything to help you land the job. A possible starting point would be to state one of your strengths and explain how you’d best plan to utilise it within the position in question.
Some examples include:
- I thrive well in a competitive environment.
- It would be great to have the opportunity to work as part of a dynamic team.
- I love solving problems for customers and clients.
- I’m keen to tackle bigger projects and see them through to completion.
Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses
Your interviewer will inevitably ask about these, and some forward planning here is key. Think about the position you’re applying for and the relevance to it.
It could pay to break your answers down into specifics which can give the interviewer a detailed insight into how you operate. For example, ‘I have people skills ’ could become ‘I can convince people to come around to my way of thinking while making them think it was their idea.’ Or, ‘I’m excellent at networking and maintaining personal relationships.’
When it comes to weaknesses certainly don’t run yourself down, but a well thought out answer to this can show your level of self-awareness (always a massive asset.) Don’t say that your problem is trying to be perfect or that you’re too good looking — cause for a major eye roll! You could say you’re not great at public speaking, or you’ve been working on delegating tasks to team members.
Related: How to master difficult conversations at work
Ask questions
Yes, have some prepared. This is your chance to find out more about the company and position on your terms. If you don’t ask questions, it may look like you can’t be bothered or don’t care enough about the job to be engaged.
(Handy hint: Don’t ask something which could be answered by some basic Googling.) Consider questions like:
- How would someone become successful in this role?
- What is the companies’ ten-year plan for growth?
- How are your staff retention rates?
- What makes you different from your competitors?
With a little luck and a lot of preparation, you’ll be in good stead to come across as a switched on, dynamic, engaged interviewee who is memorable for all the right reasons.
Keen to speak to one of our recruitment experts about how to close your next job interview? Get in touch with us today.