Got an interview on the horizon? Here are some of our handy tips to help you smash a job interview.
KNOW WHERE YOU STAND
Before you head into an interview, it's wise to know exactly where you stand in the market. Knowing things like average salary, level of competition in the job market, and how particular skills are weighted in your role will give you the tools necessary to be prepared when its time to get down to business. You can find all of this information and more in our Salary Census.
RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH
You can never know too much about the organisation you’re going to meet. Use as many of the tools at your disposal to understand anything that relates to the company. This can be any big business wins, positive PR or something as simple as checking out the person you’re meeting on LinkedIn and using their profile to establish common ground. It shows that you’re the type of person that comes prepared- but most importantly… it shows that you’re interested.
KNOW YOUR CV
It’s crucial to ensure your CV is perfectly crafted, completely up-to-date and tailored to the role that you are interviewing for. It may seem trivial, but studying what you have outlined in your CV will ensure that you can clearly outline your previous experience and relevance to the role when answering your interviewers questions!
REMEMBER THAT AN INTERVIEW IS A TWO WAY STREET
Candidates can sometimes be led to believe that their job is to turn up and answer questions, but this is a chance for you to find out what you need to about the company, the salary, the structure, the progression and the culture. Asking questions reassures the interviewer that you’re present and engaged and that you’re putting your best foot forward.
EXAMPLES
Don’t be afraid to bring examples of your best work to your job interview - if you have anything relevant that you can bring into the meeting that further demonstrates that you are suitable to the role then by all means do. Just make sure that you clear it with the client or your recruitment consultant in advance, just in case any arrangements need to be made to facilitate your examples.
EVALUATE
Do whatever you can to ensure that you don’t come out second guessing how it went. Never be afraid to evaluate as you go on; ask if there’s anything else that the interviewer wants to know, or if there’s anything that they felt you never answered as clearly as they would have liked you to. Make sure you let them know that you want to progress to the next step and ask them what the next steps will be. That way you won’t be wrestling with your thoughts for a day or two while you await feedback.
