10 tips on preparing for an interview

You've got your CV in check and it’s looking mighty fine and after a few applications and conversations with a Recruiter, HR department or even a Hiring Manager, you secure yourself an interview.

HOORAY!

Oh wait... now you have to actually prepare for it so you know what you're getting yourself in for. You won’t believe how often I meet candidates who haven’t prepared at all, closely followed by those who only browse the website briefly and consider that as preparation. Frankly put, you won't get the job if you think that is the way to go about attending an interview.

Preparation is so very important, not only does it show that you're interested in the company and that you're serious about the role, it's your career! I have spoken to people before who are happy jumping from role to role with no clear reasoning and it comes across as if they don't care about what they'll do, as long as it pays the bills.

Company website

This is naturally your first port of call. I interview people on a daily basis and many of them are not aware of our specialist brands (even though they are clearly listed on the website). From a candidate perspective, you want to make sure that the company you are interviewing with is the right one for you. Only by knowing all of the facts about the company’s history, values, ethos, future goals and future vision, will you really know if this is the right career move for you. Ensure that you go through every single page on their website and read it thoroughly.

Company blog

Some companies such as SThree have their own blogs. Some have a news section on their website which is also useful, however a blog gives you a better insight into the company and how they work. There is often going to be information, not just about the company, about the industry also. This could include information about competitors which will help you formulate good questions to ask at the end. You can take a look at SThree’s blog here.

Social media

We all have at least one of the varying platforms to stay in contact with our favourite companies (or those we want to moan to about shocking service) and it's likely the organisation you're interviewing with will have one too. Check it out; this will enable you to find out a lot more about the company, and often what it is like to work there.

LinkedIn

Another great tool to gain information is LinkedIn. It's likely that you'll be given a name of who will be interviewing you, so why not take a look at their LinkedIn profile and get a better understanding around your interviewing. It'll help build rapport when you can for example mention during the interview that you know they were on a reality TV show and had dated a well-known celebrity (as I once did during an interview).

News sites

Google has a number of tips which helps with this topic, mainly the news tab which is great for finding out the latest news about the company you interview with or the industry they operate in. It is also crucial to research their competitors. This shows that you are able to look at the bigger picture and have a solid understanding of potential changes in their business and how it could affect them in the future.

Questions

I've mentioned this a few times however if you don't come prepared with questions then you are a fool. I often hear the same questions "what type of person are you looking for?", "what are your expectations of me within my first 6 months", "what are the challenges you face in this role"?. I'll be honest; I often roll my eyes when these come up as they are almost buzzwords (look at my previous post around clichés to get my views on them too). If a candidate asks me a question such as "ABC Company have just announced they are launching a new sector which is in direct competition with you, how will that affect your business?" then I am probably going to be caught off guard and certainly invite you back for a second stage interview. Think carefully about the questions you ask, make sure they are relevant to what you're looking for, and that they are powerful questions.

Sell

My Granddad once told me as a kid that regardless of my career choice, I need to learn the art of sales. Sales are so very important to everyone to be able to negotiate, objection handle and ultimately get what you want. Think about what your Unique Selling Points (USP’s) are. These are what make you stand out against the competition, as well as don't be afraid to close the interview for next steps if you're interested. This will demonstrate your interest in the job.

Practice

You're going to get asked an array of questions, some will be the typical questions you will expect, some will be competency based, some scenario and some just darn right random. Practice your interview technique. Find out some sample questions online and get your family, friends, partner or neighbor to interview you so you get practice. It'll help with your confidence and you'll give a better interview.

Dress appropriately

I often am surprised and shocked that this still is something that needs to be raised, however people sometimes just totally miss the importance of dressing correctly for your interview. It’s more than fine to dress as if you’re a catwalk model; if you’re going for a career in fashion, however for an office based job it is likely to not be right. Research what is right for the company, some have a ‘dressed down’ approach, however still arrive smart and professional, even if a suit isn't required.

Plan your journey

Buses breaking down, trains running late, traffic on the roads. It happens and there is no escaping it sometimes but please don’t be late. Do a trial run if you’re unsure on how long it’ll take you to get to your interview and have a back up route. If you start out being late for your interview, how will your future employer know that you won’t be late everyday going forward?

I hope these tips help and good luck in your interview.