“Preparation is key” is a phrase you will undoubtedly have heard, and it couldn’t be truer than when it comes to interviews. As experienced recruiters, our consultants, have seen it all, the good, the bad, and yes, the ugly. You can have the best experience and resume, you might even be the perfect candidate for the job, but if you are unable to articulate well in an interview, you could lose out on a promising job and career move.

Make The Time

If you have an interview on the horizon allow enough time to get yourself fully prepared and don’t leave it until the last minute. This might sound obvious, but proper preparation takes longer than we think. If you are using a good agency, they will guide you and, in some cases, provide you with their own interview tips. Even if you feel confident, still take any guidance you can from the professionals. The more knowledge you have, the better.

Research

Research the company beyond their ‘About Us’ section on their website. Dig deeper to find out who they are, their values, and other relevant information. Look for any news articles, press releases as well as their annual report. Make sure you look beyond page one of Google! You will be more confident in the interview, plus you will feel more excited about the role and opportunity. Your enthusiasm and knowledge will shine through, and it counts!

Know Your Resume Back To Front

We all kind of know what’s on our resume, but when was the last time you read through yours top to bottom? At EST10 we recommend you read through to remind yourself of dates, courses, tasks, and accomplishments. This in combination with the company research, will help you with our next tip below – questions.

Questions

Traditionally, the interviewer will lead and ask most of the questions. Equally, though, they will expect you to ask key questions; it demonstrates your interest in the role and the company. Have these prepared in advance. This is your opportunity to showcase your research and the preparation you have done, as well as concluding the interview positively. Aim for questions that center on the bigger picture, such as who you will be working with and the company culture.

Practice

Ask someone you trust to help you run through the most common interview questions; goals, strengths, weaknesses, why do you want the job? etc. Provide the proper verbal answers out loud, the same as you would in an interview. Don’t be shy to do so! Hearing ourselves is not always easy but the more you go over the questions, the easier it will be. It helps to refine your answers, making you more concise and professional. You will be thankful for the practice afterwards! Ask for feedback and adjust your answers as necessary – then try again and again until you feel totally comfortable.

Expect The Unexpected

Even if you’ve been told that the interview will be more casual, always be prepared…just in case. EST10 or any agency you are working with can help you with this. Having a few key examples at your fingertips for each potential question helps to build your confidence. Keep them concise, using real life scenarios from your professional life, and if appropriate your personal life. If you’re explaining a tricky situation, try to keep these examples more generic. Providing too much specific information may come across as unprofessional and could undermine the effectiveness and value of your example.

Finally, try and relax and enjoy the process. If you are feeling very nervous, consider acknowledging it with your interviewers, we are all human after all. It may break the ice and help set you off on the right foot. Good luck!