Job interviews can be daunting and intimidating. Believe me, I’ve had personal experience with them in recent times (in fact, I just got a shiny, brand-spankin’ new job last week!), which is why I’ve decided to put together this comprehensive guide that covers everything you will need to know about preparing yourself, dressing for monumental success, and absolutely blitzing your next interview!
Preparing for the interview
Demonstrate a “good fit” — To get your head around the role you are interviewing for, list the requirements of the job point by point, then match them up with your experience. Make sure you commit all this to memory.
Know the organisation — Do your research. Ask around; Google the company. Most organisations have websites these days, so trawl through them and find out things like: the products and services they offer; their target market; major competitors; company size & locations, etc.
Review your resume — I always like to give my resume a once over before going to a job interview — after all, you got the interview because the interviewer saw something in your CV that appealed to them. Identify what that is & remind yourself of your past accomplishments before the big day.
Answering tricky questions
It’s a good idea to jot down some answers to potential interview questions, as the more prepared you are, the less likely it is that you will freeze up if you are caught off-guard. Here’s some inspiration to help you get started!
“Tell me about yourself.”
Demonstrate characteristics of your personality that relate to the job at hand. If you are interviewing for an administration position, for example, explain that you are highly organised and efficient. Show them that you have a bright, friendly and positive personality. Think about words such as: determined, integral, ambitious, hard-working, energetic, and so on.
“What are your reasons for leaving your last job?”
Martin Yate, author of Knock ‘em Dead 2007: The Ultimate Job Search Guide, suggests you choose one of the following reasons for leaving your last job:
Challenge: You weren’t able to grow professionally in that position
Location: The commute was unreasonably long
Advancement: There was nowhere for you to go
Money: You were underpaid for your skills and contribution
Pride or prestige: You wanted to work with a better company
Security: The company was not stable
“Why were you out of work for so long?”
If you took time off to travel the world, don’t be afraid to tell the interviewer. Globetrotting has become commonplace these days, and in my opinion, it’s certainly not a negative thing (well, unless you let slip that you can’t remember much of your time abroad because you were too busy guzzling Jagerbombs and vying for the title of National Vomit Champion*). Play up the ‘life-experience’ factor, and explain how you felt it was fundamental to your development.
If you didn’t venture overseas, but have considerable gaps in your work history on your CV, explain that you took the time off to seriously consider your next move. Tell the interviewer that it is important to you that you enjoy your work and you have been looking for an opportunity to work for a company in which you can make a solid long-term contribution.
(*Wow, can I just make a note here about how impressed I am by my ability to include “National Vomit Champion” in an article about job interviews. OH YES I DID!)
“Why do you want to work here?”
The interviewer is basically testing your knowledge on the company when they ask this question. It’s your chance to shine and show them that you are serious about the role! Explain what appeals to you about their product/ service. Also tell them that, through your research, you can see that the company has a strong reputation for providing a stable and happy work environment, and that you feel that this will really encourage your best work.
“What are your biggest accomplishments?”
Elaborate on your biggest achievement. Explain how you changed a process/ resolved an issue/ opened a new account/ built successful client relationships/ had work published, etc. Make sure you tell the interviewer that you are proud of your accomplishment (you should be!) Round your answer off by saying that you always strive to produce results of the highest standard, and in that sense, you are excited about all the achievements that still lie ahead for you!
“What is the most difficult situation you have faced?”
The interviewer wants to see, firstly, how you define “difficult” and secondly, how you handle tough situations. Tell them about the skills and techniques you applied to solve a specific problem.
“What are your salary expectations?”
If you are unaware of the salary for the role, ask to discuss the approximate pay range and answer in general terms. This is something that can be negotiated once an offer is made.
“What would you like to be doing five years from now?”
I think the best response to this question should include a statement about your desire to constantly challenge yourself and move forward. Explain that you like to be regarded as a professional and a team player, and express an interest in growing with the organisation and moving up the ranks.
“Why should I hire you?”
Make the answer short and to the point. Tell them you are the best person for the job, and back it up! Highlight areas from your background that relate to the job description.
What questions should I ask?
At the end of the interview, the interviewer will generally ask you if you have any questions. You might like to ask:
- What is the next stage in the process — when will I receive feedback from this interview?
- What are the key challenges of this role?
- What long-term career opportunities are available?
- What’s the company’s view on training?
- How would you describe the workplace culture?
On the day…
Dressing for Success
In most cases, the first judgement a potential employer makes about you when you arrive for an interview is how you look and what you are wearing. The aim here is to make a great impression and project an image that screams “I’m a professional, and you need me for this job!” Below are some fab prospective outfits for job interviews:
Things to Keep in Mind:
- Err on the side of conservative — it’s quite boring, I know, but you know what they say about first impressions! Making the effort to dress appropriately shows the interviewer that you expect to be taken seriously. It’s polite, it shows you are interested in ‘wowing’ them, and the best bit? It will give you a little confidence kick knowing you look like you mean business!
- Get your ensemble ready the night before. Give your outfit a test run, then press your clothes & polish your shoes. Shine ‘em up baby!
- Try & lay off the heavy makeup — minimal is best! A light foundation, an inconspicuous blush, a clear/lightly coloured lip gloss, neutral eyeshadow (if you feel the need), black/ brown eyeliner & a coat of mascara says ‘chic’ (not ‘SHREEIIIIK!!’)
- File nails so that they are tidy, & slick on one coat of clear or very light pink/ pearl nailpolish
- Spritz yourself lightly (with an emphasis on lightly!) with an unobtrusive perfume — a light floral fragrance always works a treat!
- I usually pull my hair up for interviews, but if you decide to wear it out, ensure it is nicely blow-dryed & you have tamed those crazy fly-aways! If your hair tends to fall over your eyes, my advice is to pin it back for a more elegant look.
Flip your perspective — The words “job interview” always seem to conjure up negative connotations in our minds, but this needn’t be the case! I think we get caught up in fear and worry because we doubt our own abilities and capacity to “say the right thing” on the spot. Forget this! Put the interviewer in proper perspective — remember, they are just another human being like yourself! Let me put it to you that, from now on, instead of thinking ‘job interview’, you shift your thinking and see the whole experience as an exciting opportunity to meet and have a conversation with someone new. Old word: job interview. New word: conversation! Much better, don’t you think?!
Don’t be late — Arrive at least 15 minutes before your allotted interview time. Allow plenty of time for travel (it also helps if you have sussed out the location of the venue before the day of the interview). Give yourself 5 minutes before you go in for one last pep talk, and breathe!
Be friendly & smile — Introduce yourself with a firm handshake and use great eye contact throughout the entire interview. Display good manners — be professional and courteous. Use your enthusiasm as your arsenal! A little personality goes a long, long way…
Listen to the interviewer — This goes without saying! Refrain from interrupting, and if you don’t understand a question (or if something a bit left-field gets thrown your way), a good tip is to say, “I’m sorry, do you mind repeating the question?” The interviewer will generally elaborate at this point, and it will buy you a little more time to think up a brilliant answer!
Deal with nerves — Being nervous is normal and most experienced interviewers understand this. Many people tend to be overly talkative when they’re feeling nervous, so if this sounds like you, stick to the question being asked and answer it concisely. Try not to go off on tangents! A fantastic technique my mother told me about to quash nerves is to press your thumb into the middle (the reflex point) of your opposite palm. Apparently this is a technique that world leaders use before public speaking, and it works, I swear!
After the interview
If you haven’t heard back from the interviewer within the specified timeframe, my advice is to make a follow-up call. Unfortunately, sometimes interviewers will fail to notify you if you haven’t been successful, and I highly recommend you take the initiative here — if not for peace of mind, then to ensure you don’t let any other job opportunities pass you by in the meantime! Every interview is a learning experience, so if you’re not successful, ask for some feedback. I find this really useful because it allows you to determine what you did well and what you need to improve for next time. I once went for an interview that I thought I had nailed, only to find out I had missed out because a candidate with 15 years experience in the role had beaten me to the post. In this case, calling for feedback really helped, as the interviewer assured me I was doing the right thing, but that, unfortunately, experience had won out over enthusiasm this time round. Don’t forget to remind yourself of that comforting, old adage (I pretty much live my life by it!): “What is for you, won’t go past you.”
If you were unsuccessful, but still really want to work for the company, it’s always a nice touch to write a letter or email thanking the interviewer for giving you the opportunity to try out for the job, and asking them to keep your CV on record. You never know what will come up down the track, and besides, why wouldn’t you want to be remembered as that girl/ guy with impeccable manners?!
Closing thoughts:
Remember, the only way to appear confident in an interview is to actually believe you deserve the job. If you truly believe in yourself, that sense of self-assuredness will radiate from all your actions — the way you speak, your body language, your ability to present your experience and skills in the best possible light — and the interviewer will definitely pick up on it. If you don’t receive the desired outcome from your interview, remember to pick yourself up again and launch into a new opportunity with the same energy and optimism. I think that sometimes life gives you exactly what you are fearful of, to teach you, through direct experience, how your negative thoughts can draw to you the exact thing you have been dreading. Focus on success, draw out the lessons from your losses, and remember Thomas Edison! Whatever happens, don’t be disheartened!
…And, last but not least, always keep this in mind: you are interviewing THEM just as much as they are interviewing YOU! It’s about both parties finding something that suits their needs! Best of luck!
Also worth a peek:
Go forth, dazzle & conquer… you know you can!
Rach xxx
