Lockdown Interview - Hints & Tips

In this time of turmoil and uncertainty, people can use a job as a purpose and as a stabilising factor. If you’re out of work or if you're looking for a change of employer, it is even more challenging which means you should be better prepared than ever.

All employers including Version 1 are looking to increase the Success of Hire. The economic uncertainty makes it harder to recruit and the stakes are even higher. In this piece, I am going to give practical advice for all interviewees, this is advice I have created and used throughout my career for preparation.

1. Relax - be this a screening call with Talent Acquisition or an interview you have been selected and this means they like you already. Interviews are a two-way process; they should be looking to impress you as much as you are.
2. Enthusiasm – someone better is always out there; they might be in Mongolia or interviewing for the same role. First impressions do count, no matter how qualified you are or how much experience you have if you don’t show enthusiasm for the role they won’t choose you.
3. Research – do some, we live in an instant gratification culture and you can learn about a company like never before. Glassdoor, Indeed, YouTube and LinkedIn give us insight into a companies reality not the culture they want you to see.
4. Strengths & Weaknesses – This is a more traditional question, it doesn’t matter how experienced a professional you are, this question can catch you off guard and it is asked a lot. A) Note down three strengths and why they are a strength of yours B) Now the more important one, your three weaknesses. The weakness itself is not the important point in this question, the critical factor is how you are combatting the weakness. This is important professionally; why, because if you let a personal weakness remain, then what would you do when you see a weakness in business.
5. Job Description – Review, understand and plan. I would advise having three examples per responsibility and criteria. If you plan your answers using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action and Result) you will do well.
6. Salary – Don’t talk about this, no need to in the interview and this should have been discussed before the interview to stop the interview process being a waste of time. If pressed, express your interest in the role and that you are open and this is negotiable.
7. Dress Code & Home – It's important to understand the situation and dress code of the business your applying too. Reflect what would be the dress code. Video interviews are now the norm and more than should be needed. You should take the interview in a quiet room, a plain background and without excess light where possible. Test the technology, be it Zoom, Microsoft Teams or another video call provider as want to be as relaxed before the interview.
8. Questions – Always have some, you should have two to three questions for the end of every interview and these should be well thought out. The final and leaving question for all interviewees should be asking the interviewer if they have any doubts. This allows you to counter any potential issues large or small to put you in pole position.  

If you follow these fundamental preparation guidelines you will do very well in an interview, sometimes you miss by a mile and other times a millimetre.

Good luck and stay safe!

Version 1 is growing, and we are conducting interviews daily. If you are looking to work for a company which have great core values, that by living the core values the business makes it an easy place to work then look at our current needs. If not today, then speak to our Talent Acquisition team who will happily go through our business and where you might feel comfortable in the future.