The 3 Keys for Preparing for Interview
Preparation is essential. In 2024, if we are not familiar with the company and job description and have not completed significant practice then we are not giving ourselves a good opportunity to progress. Here are key tips for interview preparation that can significantly enhance our chances of securing an offer:
1. Do Your Research
Research the Company
Before heading into our interview, take the time to research the company. Anticipate the inevitable question: "Why do you want to work here?" While practical reasons like pay may be motivating, emphasising aspects of the company's culture and standing will go a long way toward making a positive impression.
Start by gathering essential information about the company we're interviewing with. Explore its products/services, its size, and how long it has been established. Take a closer look at the company's mission statement and values to understand what matters most to them. Review our values and try to incorporate similarities into the interview process.
Research the Job
Pay close attention to the specifics outlined in the job description. Take note of the required skills and responsibilities and assess what we can demonstrate and speak to in interview. Aim to match as many points as possible - Highlight how we're the perfect fit by showing a crystal-clear picture that we are the candidate they have been searching for.
Utilise resources like Glassdoor to gauge the market value for the role we're applying for. This information will help us navigate the salary discussion confidently if all goes well.
Showcase Industry Expertise
Demonstrate our industry knowledge by researching relevant articles, news, and data. Be up-to-date on the latest occurrences in the industry as they can easily be worked into interview questions. Proficient, knowledgeable answers showcase our interest, expertise, and commitment to this industry and role.
Analysing the job description, company culture and industry latest can make a significant difference in our interview performance. Dive deep into the details, this preparation allows us to tailor our responses effectively, showcasing how our strengths and passion align with both the role and the company's values.
2. Practice, Practice, Practice
Master your CV
Become an expert on our CV, knowing our experience inside out. Familiarise ourselves with every detail and be capable of discussing them confidently during the interview. Practice telling our stories smoothly, ensuring they align with the job requirements and highlight our strengths.
Prepare for Different Interviews and Questions
Research the interview format used by the company. Whether it's competency/strengths-based, assessment centres, biographical, a presentation, etc. understanding the format allows us to prepare effectively and tailor our responses accordingly. This knowledge and groundwork drastically increases our chances of success.
Be capable of using the STAR method – Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This framework helps us provide comprehensive answers that showcase our problem-solving abilities and achievements. This is absolutely essential for certain styles like competency-based questions. Not knowing it will be a negative against our name for the hiring manager.
Online interviews are also becoming increasingly common. If we get an invite to a virtual interview, familiarise ourselves with platforms like Zoom, Skype, Teams, etc. and conduct test runs to ensure audio, video, and lighting are optimal.
Mastering Common Interview Questions
Mock interviews are essential for comprehensively preparing ourselves, building confidence and overcoming anxiety. Become familiar with the interview format, practice responding to questions, and polish our interview skills. Prepare strong responses for the most common interview questions. From the classic ‘tell me about yourself’ to ‘why do you want to work with us’ to addressing strengths and weaknesses, having well-crafted answers ready to go is a minimum requirement. By refining our responses and boosting our confidence through consistent practice, we will position ourselves as a strong, capable candidate.
As best we can, emphasise soft skills such as communication, collaboration, problem-solving, critical thinking and a desire to continuously develop. Use real-life examples to demonstrate how we've applied these skills in previous roles, obvious illustrations of experience like this will make us an undeniable front runner for the role.
Remember that interviews are two-way conversations. We are assessing the company culture as much as they are assessing us. If we have questions about the role or company, make sure to ask them when given the opportunity. It also shows that we have an interest in the company and role.
Lastly, use all available resources to help. If you’re a student, tap into your university career services. If you’re a graduate, there is a world of advice online, YouTube videos, blogs, ’50 most common interview questions’ (click here for Indeed’s version). Private companies can also be very helpful. At Career Ready Consulting, we focus on 1:1, cost-effective interview preparation to go beyond standard Q&A, improving our weaknesses and empowering us to answer any type of question.
3. Housekeeping
Right Energy, Right Demeanour
During our interview, it's crucial to be enthusiastic. Engage with the interviewer by showing genuine interest and attentiveness. Display a character that a hiring manager would be happy to work with daily. When practicing questions, actually focus on the right tone and body language. A generally positive demeanour will give a positive impression to the recruiter and will greatly improve our chances.
Managing nerves is essential for a successful interview. Nerves are normal but if we find nervousness is impacting our performance, ensure we are 100% prepared. Confidence in preparation gives confidence in interview. If this fails, consider other methods like breathing techniques. Regardless, remember to smile, recruiters will expect nerves but we must still convey positivity and approachability.
Be Practically Prepared
Whether in-person or online, pay attention to attire. If we feel like we may be overdressed, chances are we will be fine. If we feel like we may be underdressed, this is an issue. Always default to a professional dress code. If unsure, reach out to a company connection and ask what the dress code is so that we can match our interviewers.
Punctuality is key to making a positive impression. For virtual interviews, aim to join five minutes early, while for in-person interviews, arrive a minimum of ten minutes ahead of schedule. Tardiness is the easiest and quickest way to excuse ourselves from the running.
Online/LinkedIn
Companies will often check our LinkedIn profiles, particularly if we link it in our CVs. A LinkedIn profile is essentially a digital CV, so ensure its comprehensive and up-to-date. Highlight our experience, education and skills to provide tangible evidence of what we offer to potential employers. Sharing industry-related content, highlighting new skills, and demonstrating a genuine interest for the field will impress hiring managers. Any content that is even remotely questionable or could cast any negative impression should be removed.
By following these tips and thoroughly preparing for our interview, we can approach the process with confidence and increase our chances of success. If you have any questions on the above, please reach out.