The recruitment process is a highly competitive process with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of applicants applying for each vacancy. Having an edge is key, and every little improvement can help you land that all-important job offer.
Here is a list of 70 easy-to-implement changes to help you succeed in the job interview.
The tips will include advice on structured job interviews, video interviews, preparation, and answering questions.
Top Tips
- Understand the structured job interview process (how job applicants are scored during the interview) as this will help you in terms of how you answer questions
- Detailed and relevant answers score higher than short and snappy replies
- Using examples in an interview answer helps employers understand your value, knowledge, and experience
- Speaking confidently creates authority – this includes pace, pauses, volume, and tonality
- Fully understand the essential job criteria (job duties, skills, qualities required) and reference three of these per interview answer
- Be a self-promoter; talk up your experiences, use power words, and explain actions you took in tasks
- Rhythmic breathing helps to relax you
- If you sit confidently, you will feel confident due to the mind-body cycle
- Practice saying your interview answers out loud, as this technique helps improve memory more than just writing down your answers
- Ask questions to clarify what the employer is asking,g as this will help you to give the most relevant answers
Pre-interview preparation
- Research the organisations values, vision, and mission, and this will highlight the employers way of working
- Use Google Maps on the day of the interview as this will help you avoid traffic jams
- Bring an umbrella, there is nothing worse than turning up to the interview wet
- Carry pocket-sized wet wipes to clean your shoes before you arrive at the interview
- Carry out mock interviews to practice answering questions
- Write down your ten unique selling points to boost your confidence and to be used during the interview
- For video interviews, check your down/upload speed on your internet
- Re-read your CV/application as employers will ask questions based on what you wrote
- Check the interview panel’s LinkedIn profile as this helps you feel like you know them, which makes it easier to talk to the interviewers
- Familiarity creates confidence; get to know the company. Visit the premises, check out the website, and read news articles to get a feel for the company
Virtual job interviews
- Ensure you have a clear background
- Test your lighting – a light above the head often works best, but this depends on the darkness/brightness of the room
- Ensure you won’t be interrupted, a sign on the door works best
- Test the microphone/headset – and double-check your mic isn’t on mute (we have all done this)
- Place the camera so it shows the stomach to the top of your head – this allows the interviewer to see your face, and gestures
- Check if there is any construction or other noisy activities happening on the day of the interview
- For some online interviews, you will need to pre-register
- Put animals in a different room. I have seen cats jump on people’s laps during online interviews
- Reduce your vocal pace during a virtual interview to ensure you are understood
- Look towards the camera not the screen as this creates virtual eye contact
Interview arrival
- Arrive in plenty of time, in some large organisations you may have to walk up flights of stairs to a second reception area
- Ensure you have all required documents (ID, qualifications, DBS, etc)
- Bring a copy of the interview invitation to show to the receptionist
- Be polite on arrival, even if you are stressed through running late as there have been many cases of the person at reception being part of the interview panel
- While in the waiting area, sit with a confident and professional posture to help improve your first impression
- Use the waiting time to re-read your CV/interview preparation notes
- Ensure you relax your body (through breathing/positive posture) as the mind/body cycle can help you feel calm
- When you meet the interviewer, give a confident handshake while maintaining strong eye contact
- Smile and ask questions to help create rapport
- Give compliments to create likeability (people like people who like them)
Interview Answers
- Start answers with a confirmation statement; “Yes I have lots of experience in this area…” as a confirmation statement encourages the interview panel to listen to the rest of your answer
- For technical questions, as well as giving an example, explain the theory relating to the question (project management process, stakeholder matrix, engineering reasoning, etc) Stating a theory highlights a high level of knowledge
- Always, always, where possible give an example
- When giving an example 1) state the situation 2) discuss actions you took and the reason why 3) share the positive outcome and/or lessons learnt
- Relate answers to the organisations vision and mission; “…I know that your company is interested in expanding into X, I have been through this process in a previous company where I was….”
- Use positive power words/language throughout the interview
- Nod along when an employer is talking about their company/projects to build rapport and likeability
- Be aware of the structure of your interview answer. Waffle turns people off, and a lack of an easy to digest sequence losses peoples interest
- Ask (on some questions), does that answer your question or is there anything else you would like to know
- At the end of each answer, summaries what you have discussed; “in summary…”
Be seen as an authority
- What you wear says a lot about. Dress powerfully, be seen as powerful
- Quote industry experts creates authority via association
- State data, percentages, quotes, ask this makes information easy to digest
- Smiling, eye contact, gestures, mirroring, and mimicking language creates high levels of rapport
- Discuss reasons behind decisions to highlight high levels of knowledge “…there were two options, option would have X, and option two would have Y, I choose option two because….”
- Build on what an employers states. As an example if they mention about expanding into a new industry discuss the pros and pitfalls, and when possible give advice
- Praise employers for recently business successes. Hiring mangers subconsciously associate positive feelings with the person they are communicating with
- Reframe perceived problems. As an example if the employer states they want to expand into a new competitive market, and they make reference to the difficulties on this venture, give them a new frame of reference; “yes it can be difficult, but with my experience of entering new markets I can make the process much easier by…”
- Prior to job searching, write articles for industry websites as this help you to be seen as an industry expert
- Give detailed interview answers. Within one answer give several examples to show your breadth of experience
Post job interview
- Reflect on your interview answers. Which answers worked well, which got lost, which answers could be improved
- Write down any new examples, improved answers, or engaging ‘lines’ that hit the mark
- If you have an interview coach book an interview review coaching session to continue to improve your interview answers
- Continue to job search until you have a job offer(s)
- For any gaps in your knowledge, undertake some research
- Think about your non-verbal’s, did your body language, gestures, and facial expressions have a positive impact?
- Reflect on your tonality, volume, pace. Did these reinforce the words you used?
- On a scale of 1-1,0 how confident were you? Could your confidence level improve?
- Write down any of the unexpected or tricky interview questions
- Ask yourself if you actually want this job role (sometimes an interview tells us this isn’t the company I want to work for)
Interview Coaching
Need help? Book an interview coaching session.
Virtual job interview coaching can help you achieve your career dreams:
- Double your salary when you master selling yourself in the job interview
- Enjoy the interview process with increased confidence
- Choose the employer of your choice with multiple job offers