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Winning Interview Tips From Interview IQ These interview tips are brought to you by InterviewIQ. We provide one-on-one coaching to help people win at interviews. Research can help you overcome nerves. The best research involves understanding your prospective employer, the role for which you are applying and the recruitment process you'll be going through. You can actually tell a lot about an employer from the employment pages of their website. Things such as the values they have, how easy it is to find out about potential jobs and their responses to you when you apply, can all tell you about the way they handle their recruitment. This in turn can be a reflection of what it's like to work there. If it's friendly and easy to apply for a job, then chances are they have given some thought to why you would want to work for them. The web is a wealth of information. You can look at annual reports, media releases and product and service information. Online directories have company information and Google indexes the latest media news and references from other sources. So what should you be looking for when you get this information? Don't just say you've done some research, or slip random facts into your spiel, you'll really impress the interviewer if you find some simple yet compelling reasons as to why you want to work for the employer and what appeals to you about the role. Also important
is a true insight into the role and the recruitment process. Dig deeper
than the advertisement. Put a call
through if a contact number is provided. You can find out which of the skills
that the employer requires are actually the priority. You can
determine what you can do without and importantly you can start to make
yourself known (in a good way) to your future employer. Even if the
advertisement doesn't invite it, you can still contact the recruiter. If
there are no contact details, be scrupulously polite, it usually means the
employers are expecting a deluge of applications. Interview Tips # 2 Interviewer Insight No two interview processes are the same. Depending on the organization and the role, you could be interviewed by a recruitment consultant, the HR department, the line manager, all three individually or any combination. Each will have a different agenda for the interview. This is important to remember as your approach with each should be slightly different. The recruitment consultant is always the first screener. Their role is to match you to the employer's requirements and sell you as an applicant. The consultant establishes their credibility with each good candidate they put forward to the employer. Take time to woo them, even if you think they don't know their stuff (as is a common criticism). Their role is essentially a sales one: to sell you the job and, if they believe you are right for the role, to sell you to their client. Make the consultant's role easier by focussing on your strengths and achievements and point out why you are a good match. The HR
consultant is usually the recruitment procedural expert. One of their jobs
is to
ensure the organization meets its legal requirements. They often set up
the recruitment process and have a strong attachment to ensuring it is
working. It's a safe bet that you will face a more structured interview
from them, than you will from a line manager. They are often the
employer's first screener and may need to sell you further, depending on
their position and influence within the organisation. Most organizations now use behavioural questions - which means they will be expecting you to provide specific examples of where you have demonstrated the skill they are seeking. See our tips on these for further information. I strongly suggest practicing for an interview and seeking professional help. A professional is skilled at drawing examples out of you and finessing the ones you already have. However never rote learn your lines as you can never predict all the recruiter will ask. Memorising answers will make you stressed in the interview if you can't recall what you want to say. Worse still, you may even be not be answering the questions the interviewer asks. Interview Tips # 4 Build rapport One of the best ways to relax is to assume the interviewer is on your side. Good interviewers are not interested in tripping you up. In fact, most of them are on your side, or are at the very least they will be approaching the interview in a professional manner. It may even help to you to relax if you think of the interviewer as someone who wants you to do your best If you are feeling nervous and feel comfortable acknowledging it, then do so. Interviewers expect it. They can see it as a sign you realise the importance of the occasion. They are usually empathetic. Interview Tips # 5 Give yourself time Leave plenty of time to get to the interview. Rushing breeds panic. No matter what excuse you have, lateness is noted. It creates a negative impression and it puts you behind immediately. Allowing waiting time for an interview gives you time to compose yourself, your thoughts and be mentally prepared. While you think this may be the perfect job for you, it may be that it's not. There are other jobs out there. If you keep this in mind then you'll remove some pressure from yourself that this is your only chance to perform. If you think the interview is going badly, relax and use it as practice for the next one. You never know, you could even recover if you take this approach. Interview Tips # 7 An insider's tip The interview is just the formal means of assessing your suitability as a candidate. However you are not just assessed there. Each interaction you have with your future employer feeds into the bigger picture of their impression of you. Use this knowledge. Be polite and friendly with whomever you meet in the process from the very first phone call to the last goodbye to the receptionist on your way out. About Karalyn Brown
Karalyn has over 10 years experience as a recruitment
consultant and HR professional, which means
she
knows exactly what both parties are looking for. |
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Karalyn
Interview IQ is owned and run by Karalyn Brown.