So you got that interview… now what?

The Christmas holidays are some of the best times to apply for a job, and if that’s what you were doing, interview prep needs to be top of your agenda. For me, this is more important than getting an interview itself. It’s quite easy to get an interview, but actually making the most of it is absolutely vital, and if you get it wrong, it could seriously damage any future opportunities.

You only ever get one chance to make a good impression. In light of this, here are some of my top 5 points when preparing for an interview.

Research

This sounds obvious, and it’s probably the one thing that I stress the most yet, so many people try winging it. Research everything you can from the company, to the brand, the person you’re meeting, the market and even who the businesses competitors are. It gives you an edge and is the difference your interviewer walking away and telling their colleagues ‘they’re okay’ and ‘they really know their stuff’. Make sure you’re on the right side of that feedback.

Ask Questions/Interact

There’s nothing worse than an awkward silence.

You don’t want awkward silences so go in prepared with questions. Ask about training, career growth plans, long-term plans, ask anything and everything you can. If it’s a sales role, having an interactive interview approach is crucial. When a potential hire doesn’t ask me questions I walk away thinking how interested in us are you, or are you just after a job? If they don’t interact well with me, how are they going to interact and sell to our clients?

In short, always ask.

Know your CV backwards

Far too many people forget the gaps in their CVs or even why they moved. They get fuzzy about certain details and not sure where they were on what dates. This is something you must get straight from the get go or you will lose credibility. You need to know why you’re moving on, what is motivating the search and what you’ve done.

If you don’t know your CV inside and out, why should I take the time to find out about it?

Use your network

If you’re meeting a specific company, use the people you know to get some pointers on the company. Such as who they are, what the interviewer is like, what the company really stands for etc. It’s a small world and you’d be surprised how much good intel you can find out which will benefit you, if you put the effort in. All it takes is a little bit of effort on your part.

Dress to impress

Get your best suit, tie and shirt combo on. Naturally it depends on the sector, but make sure you are immaculately presented. Even if the company has a really casual dress code, always dress up to the interview. If you’re not sure, always suit up to be on the safe side.

These are such basic things, and yet so many people forget these easy steps and the result is a sloppy approach to an interview. An interview shouldn’t be something you ‘wing’. An interview is a window into your next job, career opportunity, learning experience and phase of your life. That’s something that should be taken seriously, by both parties.