Have you recently submitted a job application and are waiting for an interview invitation?
Whilst some people like taking part in interviews, some may find them overwhelming. In this article, we offer some sound advice before an interview. We shall look at what you should do before your next interview in terms of research and preparing for questions.
Preparation is key
Your preparation needs to cover researching the organisation and thinking about possible questions you might be asked. If there is a presentation, you would need to create it in advance and practice the delivery in front of others. The more you can prepare in advance, the more relaxed you might feel. If you are applying for a job which you are very keen to get, you might feel more anxious. Many people find that putting their eggs in more than one basket helps. Do try to apply for more than one vacancy. This will allow you to have more options and to feel calmer.
Research the organisation
Researching the organisation before an interview is important. First, begin with the website, particularly the ‘About Us’ page. This will give you a sense of the mission, vision, values, and the history. You should also look at the leadership team, especially those relevant to your potential role or department, as well as recent press releases or news updates.
Research the interviewers using LinkedIn
You might find it helpful to look up the names of interviewers, which are often shared with you ahead of the interview. Once you have their names, go to LinkedIn and search for each individual. While reviewing their profiles, pay attention to their current role and responsibilities.
Prepare for difficult questions
At the start of the interview, you might be asked some general questions about your background, education, hobbies, and any other part of your CV/ cover letter. It is a good idea to read through your application again before the interview.
Your interviewer might want to assess a range of relevant skills: your computer skills, how you cope under pressure, your organisational abilities, creativity, time management, research skills and communication. At times, there might not be a black and white answer to the questions.
If you are asked some ‘what if’ questions, you should try not to second-guess what your interviewer might want to hear (e.g.’ What if you were given a project with tight deadlines and limited resources’? Your interviewer is likely to want to test some of your skills, such as how quickly you can think on your feet, how you handle unexpected situations, how well you perform under pressure and how creative your thinking is. You need to stay calm and confident and simply let your personality shine through. When answering the questions, you are given an opportunity to showcase your problem-solving skills. For more information on how to prepare for an interview, visit The Open University’s website here.
Common interview questions may include the below:
- Describe a way in which you organise your tasks.
- Can you give us an example of when you have handled a complaint?
- Could you talk us through a situation when you had to develop a solution to a complex challenge?
- What are your goals? Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
- What are your strengths/weaknesses?
- Why should I hire you?
- Tell me about yourself / your work experience
- Why do you want this job?
Prepare with your own questions
At the end of the interview, you will be given the opportunity to ask your own questions. You might find the following questions helpful:
- How long do people typically stay at the company/institution?
- Why has the position become available?
- How large is the team I would be working with?
- Are there any particularly busy times in the year?
- How do you see the role developing in the future?
- Are there any learning and development opportunities available?
It is essential that you carefully consider what would make you stand out. Do take the time to review your application. Does your application stand out because of your personality, skills, abilities, values, background, experiences, and knowledge? Do you have a lot of relevant experience working in a similar role? Do you have a unique educational background? Have you volunteered in a relevant field in the past? Do you excel at one of the required skills, like communication or organisation? Do you genuinely care about the company and align closely with its values? Another option is to ask a friend, coworker, or relative to help you come up with ideas for ways to further set yourself apart.
Many people go into far too much detail when describing their experiences. They start sharing elaborate stories about challenges they have solved, but they fail to answer the questions or give too many examples to demonstrate a skill. They may use ‘we’ instead of ‘I’ when responding to questions.
Practice makes perfect
You need to make sure that you avoid giving over-rehearsed responses. It is useful to prepare examples in advance however, it is best to remain flexible. An interview is a conversation which helps your employers to find out more about you. It is also an opportunity for you to learn about the organisation and see whether you would like to be part of it.
Interviews are stressful experiences for most of us. When we feel under pressure, many of us forget to answer the questions. Having mock practice with a friend or a colleague can be excellent, as you will be able to polish your interview skills and manage your nerves better. For more information on how to prepare for interviews, do take a look at this article by The University of Law.
Additional top tips:
- Dress for success (both in-person and virtual interviews)
- Try to avoid reading from notes
- Anticipate technical issues and do your best to avoid them
- Answer the questions directly and avoid going off track
- Clarify what the next steps are following the interview
- Be honest and support your responses with examples
- Be on time
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