Excelling at Interview

Let’s be honest, once you’re in an interview your mind is filled with a multitude of things, perhaps not all constructive to clear thinking. So we have some advice to cut through this and help you both enjoy and excel in an assessment environment.

We can summarise this in one simple, unremarkable word: PREPARATION.

But the secret is how you choose to respond to this.

Preparing the following few things will allow you positive and controlled thinking when it ultimately matters.

1. Prepare your journey there. Know what time to set out, allow yourself time to take it easy and get their cool, calm and collected.

2. Know what you’re going to wear and lay it out the night before. Look bright and well put to together. That extra bit of time and effort will put you at ease and speak volumes about your intentions.

3. Revise your CV and be aware of the points and skills you have emphasised.

4. Know something about the company, try and get a sense of their motivation and mission.

5. Reassure yourself of why you want the job and what it is you have to offer. If you’re not convinced yourself there is know way you’ll convey it to a stranger.

The interview itself should be enjoyable for both you and the potential employer. You want to give them a glimpse of how you will excel and thrive in their company’s environment. We will mention now, and bear this in mind, 93% of the opinion formed of you is based on how you look and project yourself. Your interviewer wants to see that you will be an asset to the team and will enhance your colleagues work.

So although what you say has reduced lasting effects, a pretty face doesn’t excuse a lack of intelligent conversation.

Take your time when answering questions, think as you speak and be perceptive of where you are leading the dialogue. Make three or four points in your answer to a question quoting real examples. Be wary of answering a question you feel uncomfortable with and steer clear of controversial topics such as politics, religion and gender relations. Your objective is to show them what you have to offer and give them no reason to disregard you.

So all that is left to say is don’t over analyse yourself, the interviewer or the interview itself. Stay relaxed and be confident in your abilities. Finish your interview how you should start, with a firm handshake and a smile. Make your first and last impression correspond and confirm the positive addition that you would make to the team.

Top Interview Tip!

A useful mnemonic here is ROLE: Relaxed Open Leaning and Eye contact.

Top Interview Tip!

One way of responding to these sorts of questions (and others linked to your CV) is to have a number of illustrative anecdotes ready showing your practical approach to problem solving and the results you’ve delivered. Each anecdote should detail:

• the Situation you inherited or the circumstances that arose
• the Task you therefore needed to undertake
• the Action you took (this is the most important bit)
• the Result or benefit (ideally financial) for the company you can lay claim to

Use the STAR mnemonic and you can bring your anecdotes ‘spontaneously’ to life. Remember to highlight the points where you took action. You want your interviewer to remember what you did, and by implication what you can do.