Interview Tips - Beyond the Basics
No matter how many interviews you may have attended, or even conducted from the other side of the table, complacency can, and often does, get the better of us. By now, you are probably pretty comfortable with the ‘basics’ when it comes to job interviews but in a competitive selection process where can you find some marginal gains to ensure you give it your best shot? Check out some of my tips below!
INTERVIEW TIPS: BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
Do your research. Ensure you are familiar with the company values, purpose, Board and financials and prepare examples to be able to communicate specifically why you are interested in working with them based on these. Can you identify personal interests or values that align. Think of communicating in the way of benefit to them, not benefit to you. For example; if you want to work at a major resources company because you want to gain mining experience, think again, that is not a good enough reason for them to hire you. Use your new knowledge to prepare your questions for them also.
Really understand the Job Description. This means going beyond reading the advert or JD itself and rather finding out exactly what this role will need to be doing / delivering on. You can learn this from a Recruiter if there is one involved, through trying to connect with the hiring team for an exploratory conversation prior to applying or interviewing, or if human connection is not possible - think. Take the time to understand the company, current media, projects, competition, government policy impacting their business model, whatever you can find and think about how all of these things may impact the role that you are applying to. You may not get it spot on, but preparing to be able to communicate your experience relevant to these potential challenges will show that you know your stuff and are invested in them.
Find common ground. Find your interviewers on Linked-In to research their history, employers, schools, voluntary roles, common connections. Reach out to common connections to try and learn more about them where possible, make a note of any shared interests or background that you can bring into your interview. The common ground will help to make you memorable but possibly increase your chances of success.
Don't forget the basics. Double check your time and date, check your connection and ability to use the online platform if there is one before the day, do a test run on transport / parking if it's a location you are not familiar with. Ensure your diary is clear for the time needed.
INTERVIEW TIPS: ON THE DAY
Prepare...again. Cross check your calendar in the morning to ensure that you have the time without distractions and don't allow yourself to be doing high stress tasks up until the second you leave. Delegate and re-organise where possible. Do a check on the company media / share price where relevant to be absolutely current and help frame your introductions. Show up or log in, ahead, of the start time - technical stalls, can throw panic and cause silly mistakes.
Know that everyone you meet is interviewing you. Be courteous and professional and critically be yourself, to all that you meet in the process - in the lifts, the restrooms, reception. The hiring panel often hear and take into account feedback from other employees who will have crossed paths with you so make it count.
Leave your emotional baggage at the door. If you are having a bad day, week, month or year this is the time to push past it and allow 'positive you' to shine through. While Hiring teams are no doubt empathetic to life's struggles, when they only have 30-90 minutes to make a decision about whether to progress someone, sadly they won't be able to hear your backstory to see beyond other than what they see in front of them.
Talk about the elephant in the room. If there is an obvious objection that you have identified that may sway their decision away from you, bring it up. Perhaps your gut feel is that there will be others interviewing for the role who have more experience in 'X' than you do, or you know their preference is to have someone with experience that you simply don't have; meet the potential objection head on before they can make their own mind up. It will show that you have considered their needs and ways of overcoming this potential barrier that you have for mutual benefit. Use examples to demonstrate why this 'thing' should not be considered an objection but rather a positive. The key is to ensure that you are not coming across as defensive, and purely putting a positive perspective on things.
Don't forget the basics! Dress the part, good hygiene, present with a warm and friendly demeanour, make eye contact, show respect to, and include ALL on the panel. Break the ice, ask questions, pause, breathe, relax, enjoy!
INTERVIEW TIPS: AFTER THE INTERVIEW
Stay until the very end. When the interview itself is finished, don't discount the time that you have being walked back to reception or the exit. Thank the person again for their time, share any insights you learned, reiterate your interest levels, remain yourself yet professional all the way.
Self-reflect. An interview is a two-way process so take time to consider what you learned, what you liked, what you didn't, how this opportunity fits into your career goals or current needs? What compromises might you have to make and which are viable to you, what did you wish you shared with them but forgot or didn't get the chance to ask? How did you interview, what can you learn to change next time around? Without beating yourself up, this is very helpful to future success whether you are the interviewer or interviewee next time around.
Follow Up. If a recruiter is involved in your process, call them to discuss and share openly all of your self-reflection, including any concerns. Pass on your thanks for the time of the Hiring team via email if you have a contact or to your recruiter if appropriate. Re-iterate exactly what it is about this opportunity that you are interested in. It's very common for interest levels to increase following an interview where you have learned something more specific or experienced an office culture for example, so don't be afraid to share what this is. If you didn't get clarity before or during the interview, try and get a gauge on next steps from your best source, this will help manage your own expectations on when you may hear something.
Carry on. Let the waiting game commence but don't put your life on hold in the meantime, no matter how excited you are about a prospect. If you're proactively seeking work, keep doing so, continue to attend interviews where they have potential to fit your requirements and if you are only open to this one opportunity carry on with your day job until you hear back on next steps. It can be very competitive and while you may have had an amazing interview, you just never know how things will turn out. Control what you can control, and then keep your fingers crossed.
We get it, often these things can be easier said than done, especially if the job prospect means a lot to you and so if you feel you need additional support with your job search or interview performance our coaching services are very well placed to assist. Get in touch to learn more about how!
