So, you’ve caught the eye of the company for a role you applied for. Essentially you have passed the first hurdle; yet now you are aware that sealing the deal may be dependent on your interview skills, and you know you will be faced with some common interview questions.
In order to be your relaxed and best self in the interview, it’s important to think of a few steps to prepare yourself to shine. Whether your interview is online or in person, it’s an impactful and lasting tool to learn how to best showcase your professional self for your professional career.
Below are some tips and strategies that will help you impress your potential employer in an interview and raise your odds of securing a job offer. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through and stay focused and positive throughout the interview process.
What should I wear to an interview?
It’s important that in order to make a good impression at your interview to dress appropriately. Your appearance can translate your preparation and efforts and can project how seriously you are taking the opportunity – your hygiene is important here too!
Prior to the interview, research the company’s dress code to establish how formal their dress code is. However, when in doubt, formal it out. It is always better to be cautious and dress more formally if you’re unable to gauge the company’s dress code.
Opt for clothes that are comfortable, clean and well–fitting. Avoid any attire that is too garish or loud, as this can be distracting. Remember; you want the interviewer to focus on your experience and potential, not your rainbow tie.
What are the most common interview questions?
It can be extremely helpful to prepare responses to common interview questions. Even though you cannot predict exactly what the interviewer will ask, these questions are most likely to come up in some form.
1. Tell me about yourself
Your response here will act as your introduction, present yourself as the key candidate for the job as opposed to explaining your life story or personal hobbies that are not relevant to the position.
2. Why do you want to work here?
The interviewer is looking to see how passionate you are about the role through this question; ensure to also express your interest and enthusiasm in the overall company as well.
3. What do you know about the company?
If you have been following and keeping up to date with the company and its successes this is a perfect time to share this. If you have no prior knowledge of the company, research tits latest news and impacts prior to the interview.
4. What are your strengths?
Here is your opportunity to highlight some of the key relevant strengths you can bring to the role. Back up each strength with a specific experience to illustrate this, as your interviewer who does not know you cannot simply take your word that you are ‘a strong leader’ or ‘thrives in a fast-paced environment’ without examples.
5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Take a diplomatic strategy with the answer, setting realistic but ambitious goals to show you are enthusiastic about your role and growth.
6. Do you have any questions?
There is no ‘right’ answer to this however there is a wrong one – “No, I’m good!”. Find out a bit more about the culture of the company, or what your day-to-day may look like. This shows enthusiasm for the role and indicates to the interviewer whether you want to work here or not.
Prepare for these questions by first considering your relevant experience, skills and goals and how you can bring this into the role. You want to highlight your strengths and experience, and how you overcame challenges in a past professional setting.
Keep your answers concise and relevant, and even practice with friends or family so that you feel confident heading into the interview.
What are some tips for making a good first impression during an interview?
Now that we have covered the interview questions, here are some bonus tips to help you have a successful interview:
- Before the interview ensure to arrive early to compose yourself and turn off your phone
- Bring along additional copies of your CV or references which can deem you as organised
- Importantly, be polite and gracious to everyone you meet, no matter their role in the company.
- Even if you are uncomfortable or nervous, take a breath and stay positive and optimistic.
How can I demonstrate my qualifications and skills during an interview?
As mentioned previously, use specific examples to illustrate your strengths and avoid general or vague statements. Instead, if you want to demonstrate qualifications and skills during an interview by focusing on past achievements, showing how they relate to the job demands.
Remember to emphasise how your skills and experience align with the company’s requirements and conduct, which will also show you as an appropriate fit for the company’s general culture. How can I follow up after an interview to increase my chances of getting the job?
So, you have now gotten through the preparation and interview process, and perhaps you are now taking a sigh of relief and kicking your feet up until you hear back from the company. However, it is vital to follow up with the interviewer after the interview.
Send a thank you email within 24 hours to thank them for their time, leaving a lasting good impression. This can also be a useful opportunity to mention any key skills you may have forgotten to mention in the interview and to show your continued enthusiasm for the role.
Conclusion
Remember, the company would not have chosen to interview you if your skills and experience did not leave an impact or did not align with the role itself. More often than not, employers are looking for a specification that may be precise and something that cannot be charmed by your impressive responses and charismatic interview style.
With that it’s important to recognise when something is within your abilities and when something is not part of your control, however, you can give yourself your best shot by being prepared to show your best professional self and skillset.
Understand that you should not feel disheartened or disappointed in yourself; rejection is a part of the employment process, and every successful person has endured these challenges. In fact, in some scenarios, you may even be overqualified; such as in cases applying to apprenticeships that involve invaluable training in itself.
Instead, take every experience on your journey climbing the employment ladder as a learning curve to improve; and be reassured that you will find a job that will match your knowledge and potential in due time.
