Interviewing 101: Preparation, preparation, preparation!
After all the hard work updating your CV, connecting with recruiters and applying for jobs, finally landing an interview can feel like a relief. But as the date creeps closer the nerves begin to kick in! Even if you’ve done it a thousand times before you still find yourself feeling ill-equipped, however, beating that interview anxiety is simple. The more prepared you are, the less intimidating the interview becomes. Check out these great tips on how to interview for a job whether it’s in person or remote.
Energize’s top tips on how to interview for a job
Follow these steps to ensure you’re fully prepared for your job interview:
- Do some in-depth company research
Go beyond the company webpage when you do your research. Look at employee reviews on Glassdoor, read the company social media feeds and try to determine their position in the industry. Ask yourself who their competitors are? Why are they successful and how can they continue to grow? You can also discover more about your interviewers by looking at their LinkedIn pages.
- Look for key skills, experience, and competencies in the job description
Another area to focus on in your preparation is the job description. Run through it with a highlighter and look for the key skills needed, the experiences they are looking for and any competencies that are mentioned.
- Anticipate any concerns the interviewer might have
Ask yourself if there are any reasons why an employer might choose another candidate over you. By thinking about this in advance you can prepare counterarguments and confidently anticipate any questions over your fit for the role.
- Practice your answers to common interview questions
Practice makes perfect! Even though you don’t know the exact questions you’ll be asked, you can still practice your answers. Think about what questions are likely to come up based on the job description and practice saying your answers out loud. You can do this with a friend or even in front of a mirror.
A great way to structure your answers is the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) technique. This is particularly helpful for competency-based interview questions, but you can use it for any answers where you need to give an example from your personal experience.
- Prepare some killer questions to ask the interviewers
Don’t be left speechless when the interviewer asks if you have any questions for them. Your questions can be a great way to get a feel for the role and the wider workplace culture.
- Have copies of your CV with you
Keep your CV close at hand, as well as a notebook and pen. This way you can refresh your knowledge while you wait, and you can refer to it during the interview if needed.
- Be confident!
Show your enthusiasm for the role early in the conversation and put a positive spin on any negative questions. Be confident in your abilities. They wouldn’t be talking to you if they didn’t want to know more about you
Remember plenty of preparation is key to standing out in your job interview, whether it's in person or remote.
Got a remote interview? Ace it with these amazing Zoom interview tips
For a remote interview make sure you’ve done your research, read the job description and rehearsed your answers. And don’t forget to:
- Test your tech
Download any required video interviewing app in advance and practice using it so you know you have any meeting links or access codes. You should also test your own tech to ensure your mic, headphones and webcam are all working.
- Find a quiet space
Be mindful of the environment around you. Find a quiet spot to take the call, let others in your house know that you’ll be unavailable and consider what the interviewer can see behind you. You might want to use video interview background but try to choose something neutral.
- Be mindful of your body language
Body language is always important in an interview but it’s especially key in a video interview as the interviewer can only see your face. Avoid any distracting body language such as tapping your foot as that can interfere with the sound.
- Double check your dates!
This is always good practice but it’s especially key if you are interviewing with someone from a different location. Double check with the recruiter or hiring manager that all parties have the correct date, time, and time zone!
It doesn’t matter if it’s a video interview or a telephone interview, these amazing tips will make sure you’re ready.
Bonus: 5 killer interview questions to ask employers
An interview is a two-way street! It’s not just about you wowing a potential employer, it’s also about discovering if the role is the right fit for you. Asking questions about the job role, the management structure and the company culture is a great way to do that, and an insightful question can set you apart from other candidates. Here are our five killer questions to ask in your interview:
- What is the most important thing I could achieve in the role in the first 3 months?
- How will my performance be reviewed and what metrics or goals will I be evaluated against?
- What are the biggest challenges I might face in this position?
- How would you describe the company’s values and culture?
- How long have you been with the company and why do you enjoy working here?
No matter the role you’re interviewing for the key thing to make sure you stand out from the crowd is preparation, preparation, preparation!
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