Top Ten Tips On Interview Tricks!

A lot of people that I speak to on the market say they are 'out of touch' with the interview process! It might have been a while since you interviewed last or perhaps, you’re just nervous about the process! Whatever the reason, I am happy to help! 

Since the start of the pandemic, we had so many interviews taking place via video conferencing. What a huge change! Did you ever think that would happen from starting your first-round, right through to offer stage? I, for one certainly didn't! 

Moving forward, as restrictions start to ease in the UK, my vision is that the interview process will have a fine balance between the video call & face-to-face method. Whilst we have learned that video calls save time & travel costs, our face-to-face interaction is being missed by many! There’s nothing like a strong handshake when meeting someone formally!  

Moving on, I have had a lot of candidates asking me questions about the interview process during the pandemic, given we are still in a lock-down in the UK you might find yourself asking these questions...

 ?? “Will the client make a potential offer if I haven’t met them face to face?”

 ?? “Do I need to dress smart if my interview is over a video call?”

 ?? "How can I get across the same level of enthusiasm on video calls compared to a face-to-face meeting?"

On that note, I thought I would take the time to write up my best interviewing tips to help you when it comes to that crucial time when you are interviewing on the audit, risk or governance market.

? Dress smartly:

As mentioned, I have had a lot of candidates ask if they should dress smartly as everyone knows the reality when working from home. My biggest tip would be…Yes, always dress smart on a video call, I know we are all working from home and everyone is in the same boat, however I always recommend wearing a shirt at the very least! This shows you are taking the process seriously. Yes, we are living in very different times and everyone has been working from home, but you must remember interviewers still want to see you are taking the process seriously! 

? Video calls Interviews:

I always inform my candidates to make sure they are showing more enthusiasm, passion and feeling more upbeat than ever. This is because it's much harder to show through a video call compared to when you are face to face interview! So, trying to get that high energy across would help by a good level of eye contact, sitting up straight and letting your voice project! Always ask the right questions to show you are genuinely interested in the process too!

? Body language: 

Body language means everything! I always recommend sitting up, shoulders back, maintaining eye contact. Doing the three things allows voice projection and shows confidence. Treat the interview just like you were in a face-to-face setting. It sounds bizarre, however my colleague Julia & I, often recommend practicing in the mirror first! Trust us.... it really works! 

? Research the company: 

I cannot stress how important this is. Have a look into the company’s values, ethos and 'about us' page. After all, the interviewer might just ask how you perceive the company's position in its industry, who the organisation’s competitors are, what their competitive advantages are, and how it should best go forward. Preparation is key! 

? Read through the annual report: 

If I am being brutally honest, candidates do not do this often enough and I feel it is vital to understand the performance of the business you could be potentially working for one day! 

?? What is your interpretation of the company annual report? 

?? Do you have a specific question to ask at the end of the interview, perhaps around the statistics displayed on the annual report? 

In my opinion, it shows you have thought 'outside the box' and put in the time/effort to research the business. 

? Mindset Preparation: 

Read through your own CV, take time and reflect back on it. The biggest tip I could give here, is put yourself in the interviewer’s position. 

?? Have you thought about which questions you might be faced with during the interview?

?? What would you want to know from the CV if you were the hiring manager? 

?? What questions would you ask them based on their profile & experience?

? Line up your questions for the interviewer: 

Asking relevant questions at the end shows the interviewer that you have a genuine interest in the role, it also shows you have thought about questions. I always inform my candidates who are in process to prepare some that may not come up in conversation & I cannot express how important this is. Preparing a couple questions to ask at the end of the interview shows enthusiasm, genuine passion & interest for the role. A huge tip I always give to my candidates is always ask “if I was the right candidate for this role, what do you think my challenges would be in the first six months.” This allows you and the interviewer to have an honest, open, and transparent conversation. This is only one example out of dozens that we can support you with.

? Use the STAR technique: 

Candidates often dismiss the STAR technique, but it is a technique that works so use it! It allows answers to be given to the interviewer in a clear and concise manner. Using this technique when it comes to competency-based questions! 

? Take a moment:

Some people are eager to answer questions during an interview quickly as quickly as they can. Often, they have rushed & not answered the actual question! So, my advice is...slow down, think and breathe. If you need to pause & have a think let the interviewer know! It is better to get it right, rather than rushing the answer & getting it wrong.

 ? Be yourself: My last tip would be.. BE YOU. If you feel nervous, put yourself in the shoes of your interviewer. They might not be so experienced in interviewing candidates before, so they can be just as nervous too! PS: Don't forget to smile ??

 Good luck during your next interview! I hope the top tips & tricks have helped you.