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Interviewing successfully is a skill that is we use relatively rarely. We may only change jobs once every couple of years and it is very easy for our interview skills to become rusty.
The good news is that you can develop winning interview skills quickly and easily and in this article we give you some key interview tips which will help you walk away with the job offer.
The interview as a communication exercise
A job interview is a communication exercise and the way you sell yourself will have a major impact on the end result. While you may be an ideal candidate with a CV full of experience and impressive achievements, you will need to get this message across to the interviewer if you are to succeed.
Prepare in advance, practice answering questions and be ready to give detailed examples of your achievements which demonstrate that in fact you can do the job effectively. Don't be afraid to blow your own trumpet; the interview room is not the place to be modest.
Dress to impress
Remember the way you dress gives a message as to the type of person you are and can give clues as to the type of employee you will be. Arriving for the interview looking as though you haven't made an effort will make a potential employer think you just don't care about the job and the likely result is that you won't get the offer.
Dress appropriately and for most posts this means dressing conservatively. Your appearance is the first impression your potential employer will have of you so you need to ensure it is a good one!
Be punctual
Arriving late for an interview is one of the most common mistakes and is almost sure to guarantee failure. In fact turn up late to your interview and you might as well not turn up at all. It is vital that you are on time; and we advise that you arrive at the reception area about ten minutes before the start of your interview. This gives you the perfect amount of time to correctly compose yourself and calm those nerves.
Arriving slightly early is also great in case there are any forms etc for you to fill in as this means your interviewer isn't sitting around waiting for you to do this, meaning you can put more thought and detail into it.
Bring the correct information and documents
For some job interviews you may be informed of certain pieces of information that you need to bring with you. These pieces of information could be documentation in the form of your CV and a portfolio of work as well as your driving license. Even if you aren't asked to take any of these with you it is always a good idea to have them as it is better to take too much as oppose to nothing at all.
Be confident, friendly and enthusiastic
While interviews can be nerve wracking it is vital that you present yourself in a confident manner. Present yourself as friendly, approachable and confident, keen to work as part of the team.
It can be frustrating for an interviewer to make an offer only to have it rejected and for this reason we suggest you are enthusiastic about the job. This gives the message that you are likely to accept an offer if one is made.
Research the company and be prepared to show your knowledge. This demonstrates that you are interested in the employer and want to be part of what it is doing.
Be honest
Avoid the temptation to lie or embellish you achievements. It is likely that you will get caught out at some stage and then you have to consider the consequences.
Ensure that what you say in your interview doesn't contradict anything that is stated within your CV. You also need to be clear on your job objectives such as progression and the different roles you want to play in a company.
Sell yourself with your strengths
Be clear about what you are bringing to an employer. Know yourself and be ready to talk through three or four of your key skills or strengths. Back up your statements with example of achievements which give evidence of your abilities.
Make sure you emphasise strengths that are related to the job position you are going for and give examples of how you have demonstrated these strengths in previous roles.
Be honest with your weaknesses
Everybody will have some area which requires improvement. The key in the interview is to avoid talking about one which is crucial to being able to carry out the job. Choose one which is relatively innocuous but which you are aware of and dealing with.
If asked about weaknesses, avoid the temptation to reel off a list. Just pick one, following the advice above and be clear about what you are doing to improve this weakness.
Ask questions
Be ready to ask questions as this shows interest in the role. Avoid questions relating to benefits and salary and focus instead on role related questions. For example, asking for more detail of the job, the team you will be working with, or opportunities for promotion are all fine.
Questions about the company and its products show an deeper awareness, however be careful not to ask questions for which the answers would be very obvious had you done some basic research.
Know your goals
You may be asked about your future plans such as ‘where do you see yourself in five years?' This can be a difficult question to answer however be careful not to talk in detail about plans which will take you away from the job. After all, an employer will not want to have to recruit within a short space of time.
More winning interview tips for success in any interview
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