Interview preparation is like preparing for any other meeting, and if you have already gone through the process of putting together a CV with well-thought-out achievements, you are halfway there.
Some areas to focus on in your interview preparation include:
- Knowing your CV;
- Objectives for changing jobs;
- The business you are interviewing with;
- Questions for the interviewer;
- Other considerations;
Knowing Your CV
I cannot stress this enough. This is essential to do during interview preparation. If something is on your CV, you need to be able to talk about it.
Things to focus on:
- People respond well to examples, so make sure you have real examples of each aspect of your role, no matter how mundane it might seem. Suppose you are able to talk about a real example rather than citing a job description. In that case, it not only limits the risk that your answers will sound like everyone else you have met but also makes it easier to remember what you want to talk about. The additional benefit is that if your example relates to an area of concern for the interviewer, it is likely to either alleviate those concerns or prompt them to ask another question, giving you a greater opportunity to sell yourself;
- Know the specifics. This means everything from dollars and time saved as a result of something you have implemented through to annual revenue of your clients if you are in a consulting role;
- If there are obvious areas of concern on your CV, such as you have had 4 jobs in a year or taken time off from work, make sure you have taken the time to think about how you want to explain these quickly and concisely, so they don’t become the focal point of the interview;
- If someone asks you a question that is clearly addressed on your CV, they want to hear you talk about it. Most hiring managers’ least favourite answer to a question is “it’s on my CV” your CV was the written test; the interview is verbal;
As highlighted in a previous post, when you are thinking about how you want to structure answers, an effective way of making sure you touch on the most important points is using STAR.
STAR stands for:
- Situation
- Task
- Action
- Result
This is a really useful tool, not only for interviews but for any time you are trying to present an idea.
By taking the time to think about the examples you want to use in this way it will:
- Keep your answer on track and to the point;
- Make sure you quantify the outcomes;
Again while it is important to know your CV and your achievements, the purpose of taking the time to prepare for the interview is not so you can rattle off answers like a robot.
It is to ensure you have thought about what is most relevant for the meeting and the role you are interviewing for and to give you the confidence you need to have a successful meeting.
Objectives For Changing Jobs
There are many reasons why people move jobs, and as such, there is a good chance that the person interviewing you will want to ensure those reasons won’t exist with them. Hence, you need to include this during your interview preparation.
Some things to think about:
- Quantify your reasons where possible. i.e. if you are leaving because you want a better “work-life balance”, everyone has a different idea of what work-life balance could be very different. If you say I’m currently working from 7 am until 9 pm every day and am looking for a job that is closer to 8 am until 6 pm most days, it removes any uncertainty;
- Avoid speaking negatively about your current employer. There is always a diplomatic way of saying things, and most people will be able to read between the lines;
- Where possible, highlight how the position you are interviewing for will satisfy your objectives;
- To be honest, there is no point telling the interviewer what you think they want to hear if it means you will be in a job you hate in 3 months;
The Business You Are Interviewing With
Use your better judgement here as your answer to the question, “tell me what you know about XYZ company?” will, as you expect, vary considerably depending on the seniority of the role if you are coming from a competitor and the availability of information.
As an absolute minimum, you should have:
- Reviewed the company website, have a reasonable understanding of the working culture and the reasons why you would be interested in working for the business;
- Searched for available information on the interviewers, including LinkedIn;
The more senior the role, the more likely it is for the interviewer. It is going to expect that you will have some insight into the current challenges the business faces and the business’s performance in your area.
If you are coming from a competitor, they will probably be interested in how competitors and opportunities in the market perceive the business.
Where possible, if you can speak with someone who is currently working with the business or has worked for them before, it informs your decision and demonstrates that you have a genuine interest in working for the business.
Questions For The Interviewer
The questions you will have for the interviewer will naturally depend on what information you have been able to uncover either through the interview process (if 2nd interview onwards), what you have uncovered during your research and the seniority of the role you are interviewing for.
When thinking about your questions, some points to consider, like any other meeting, include:
- Make sure you include what you already know, i.e. “Your website mentions XYZ. Can you tell me a little more about that?”;
- Any concerns you might have, framing is important, but this is the time to ask;
- Avoid self-serving questions where possible, i.e. “What discounts do I get for working here?” all that information will be made clear to you before starting and asking sounds petulant;
- Make sure your questions are relevant. If the interviewer has answered all your questions, let them know you were going to ask them about XYZ, but they covered it;
Other Considerations during interview preparation
Some common questions we get asked include:
What do I do if they ask me about my salary?
Everyone has a different view on this. If you are going through a recruiter, the interviewer probably shouldn’t ask; however, if they do, I think you should tell them. Responding with “talk to the recruiter” forms a disconnect between the interviewer and the interviewee.
If the recruiter has done their job, the hiring manager knows how much money you want. They just want to hear it from you.
What time should I arrive?
Again use your discretion; however, best practice would be between 5-10 minutes before the start of the meeting. Any more than 10 minutes is awkward; go for a walk around the block.
If you are running late, call the recruiter or the hiring manager.
What should I wear?
Wear a professional dress to the standard of the job being sought. The obvious exception to this is if the recruiter/HR-specific instructions have told you.
This is probably fairly obvious for most people. However, I have heard of someone turning up to an interview in Ugg boots before, so bear repeating.
If you can take the time to go through the above, ensure you have a firm handshake, make eye contact, turn up on time and are appropriately dressed, you should feel confident that you will give yourself the best chance of securing the position.