How to prepare for an interview.

You have been invited for an interview, the initial excitement that you are one step closer to your dream job fades, and panic set’s in… how do I prepare for the interview?!  

Here are some top tips to help you feel confident and prepared for your interview; 

1. Do your research! 

It is crucial that you spend some time researching the company you are interviewing for! Your potential future employer will expect you to have a basic understanding of what the company does.   

What industry are they in? What is the history of the business?  

Who are their competitors? Any recent projects you can refer to?  

Do you know who will be conducting the interview – can you find them on LinkedIn and find out about their background?  

What are the company values? How do they align with your own?  

Have a look at their social media – what does this tell you about their company culture?  

This kind of research and knowledge demonstrates to the employer your genuine interest in the company.  Being armed with this knowledge should also increase your confidence and help you feel more comfortable ahead of the interview.  

It's also important to do your research to determine whether it’s the right fit for you! 

The average person spends over 2000 hours per year at work; you need to ensure this is the right employer for you.  

2. Know the role!  

As well as researching the company, make sure you really understand the role you are interviewing for. Go over the job description again.  

What appeals to you about the role? How do your skills and experience match the requirements of the role? Can you think of examples of when you have undertaken similar duties or responsibilities?  

It's key that you can articulate why you want the job and, more importantly, why the employer should choose you over other candidates!  

  3. Know your CV!  

To be able to sell yourself, you need to be able to confidently talk through your experience, your achievements and any relevant education or qualifications. You won't have your CV with you in the interview, so make sure you know it inside out! This includes dates, the reason for leaving, company size and responsibilities.  

Most interviews will begin with the interviewer asking you to tell them about yourself and discuss your CV. This is your opportunity to take the lead and begin the interview on a positive note!  

4. Prepare for questions 

Generally, most interviews will be a combination of behavioural questions and non-behavioural questions. The questions will often overlap and are designed to gather information about each of the major employers’ concerns.  

 5. The STAR technique  

Along with general questions about your CV and experience, you will likely be asked some behavioural (competency) based questions. To answer these types of questions effectively, use the STAR technique and structure your answer into 4 parts;  

Situation – Describe the situation or setting, role, company etc.  

Task – Outline what needs or needed to be done.  

Action – Describe in detail the action you took. Verbally bullet point every step you took to reach the desired outcome.  

Result – Outline the positive result of your actions, especially the benefits to the organisation.  

  
Some other typical questions asked in interviews and some tips on how to answer; 

 Why did you leave your last role? Keep it short and simple. Be positive! Don’t go into unnecessary detail.  

What do you know about the business? Demonstrate your research here! Reference their core values and how you emulate those in your day-to-day role – clients love this! 

Why does this role appeal to you? Relate to your past experience and what you can bring to the role.  

Why does this company appeal to you? Again, demonstrate your research! Discuss what you have discovered about the company culture that appeals to you. Is it the training and development? Has the company won any awards?  

What are your weaknesses/areas for improvement? Always try and put a positive spin on any weaknesses.  

Prepare your questions  

At the end of the interview, the interviewer will turn the tables and ask… have you got any questions? Always make sure you do!  

Not all questions are good questions, though; for example, ‘Am I allowed to wear fake tan?’ is not going to impress the employer and give them an insight into why you are the person for the job, neither is ‘Can I dye my hair green?’ – both of these are real questions from real candidates!  

For the best tips on what to ask at the end of an interview. See our blog from Senior Recruitment Consultant Sam:

https://blog.lilyshippen.com/blog/what-to-ask-at-the-end-of-an-interview?utm_content=228871561&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-10507242 

Dress to impress  

Deciding what to wear to your interview can be an intimidating task! You want to make a good first impression (according to research first impressions are formed within 7-17 seconds of meeting someone!) as well as feeling comfortable and confident.  

Whether it’s an interview over Teams or you are going into the office and meeting face to face, you need to look professional and presentable.  

What you are expected to wear to an interview can depend on the company, the industry and the culture of the business. You would expect a large law firm to be more formal, and a small creative agency may be slightly more relaxed regarding dress code. You can always ask before the interview what their expectations are. Remember, if in doubt, it's always better to be too smart than too casual!  

 Plan your day 

Interviews can be stressful. Minimise stress by planning your day!  

If your interview is in person;  

Do you know exactly when and where the interview is taking place?  

Do you know how to get there? Have you checked the timetables if you are taking public transport? If you are driving, is there parking? 

Do you need to bring anything with you?  

If it’s a video call or telephone interview; 

Is all your equipment working correctly?  

Do you have a quiet and private place you can sit for the interview? 

Have you made sure you aren’t going to be interrupted? 

You should always try to arrive in plenty of time so you aren’t feeling rushed and have some time to gather your thoughts.  

Make sure you have enough time to eat! Even if you feel nervous and have lost your appetite, you probably won't perform your best on an empty stomach!  

Be yourself!  

It’s important to be yourself! You want to be successful in an interview based on being the right fit for the company and culture and your experience and knowledge. Put your best foot forward,  get across your personality and showcase your skills and capabilities.  

Don’t forget;  

-Positive body language 

-Eye contact 

-Firm handshake  

-Smile!  

 And don’t forget – call your consultant after the interview to give your feedback.