Interview tips to land your dream job
Raise your hand if you enjoy job interviews! No one? Yeah, I thought so.
Even the most confident of folk find job interviews nerve-wracking, so if the thought of sitting in front of a panel being grilled about why they should offer you a job makes you sweat, you’re far from alone.
Don’t worry though, we got you.
Not only have I attended many job interviews myself, I’ve interviewed a lot of candidates and know what companies are looking for in general (as in, outside industry specifications).
From pre-interview etiquette to post-interview follow-up, here’s exactly how to smash your next job interview.
Do your prep
My go-to prep is to revisit the job description and ensure that I have an example that showcases how I match each requirement listed, as at least a couple of these will be asked in the interview.
I also research the company and visit their website and social media, as you will almost certainly be asked what you know about the company at the start of the interview. Write a short paragraph summarising the company and familiarise yourself with it.
Oh, and bring a notebook along to your interview with your notes in it: you can refer to them if you get stuck.
Overdressed is better than underdressed
Even when you know that a company has a casual dress-code, in my opinion it’s always worth dressing smartly for the interview.
It communicates that you care about the role and that you’ve taken the time to ensure that you look presentable. Make sure your clothes are ironed and well-fitting.
Remember that the interview starts before the interview
As soon as you step foot in the building, or maybe even walk down the street of the building, you could be face to face with a future colleague, or maybe even your interviewer. So be polite and friendly to everyone (and why wouldn’t you be anyway?)
It’s also helpful to keep this in mind while you’re waiting to go into the interview, particularly if you have a resting bitch face like I do. Remember that this is the first impression the interviewer will have of you, so you want to avoid looking like a scrunched up goblin with a headache - sit up straight and try to assume a somewhat friendly expression.
Manage your body language and breatheee
Following on from my last paragraph, when we’re nervous we often shrink into ourselves without realising - crossed arms and legs and a hunched over back. Try to remember to sit up straight and place your hands in your lap, shoulders back.
Not only will you look confident and relaxed, but the simple act of changing your body language will make you feel more confident as well. Magic!
If you find yourself getting flustered or tripping over your words, stop and take a beat. Breathe. If you can, breathe slowly. It will calm you down and help you to speak clearly.
Be human
You are all humans meeting to see not only whether you’re capable of doing the role in question, but also whether you’re a good fit for the company.
Be yourself - the professional version of yourself, but still yourself. Remember that you want to find out whether you actually want to work for this company as much as they’re trying to figure out whether they want to hire you.
So switching personality will do you no favours.
Don’t sweat it If you make a mistake
A lot of us mess up interviews (and some of us, driving tests…naming no names) because we make one tiny mistake and let it obliterate our confidence.
If you mess up, correct yourself if necessary and move on. Chances are, the interviewer didn’t even clock it.
Ask questions
Never, I repeat NEVER, be the person who says no when the interviewer asks if you have any questions at the end of the interview.
Interviewers want you to have questions; it shows that you’re interested in the company/role for one thing.
Always have a couple of questions lined up in case you don’t have any following the interview. You can steal some of mine, if you like:
What would a typical day/week in this role look like?
What are some upcoming projects I would be involved in?
What is the most useful thing I could do in my first six months at the company?
Is this a new role or would I be replacing someone?
How would you describe the company culture?
Can you tell me about who I would be working with on a regular basis?
Close the deal: nail the follow-up
Some disagree with me on this, but it’s never failed me before: always send a follow-up email to the interviewer/s to thank them for their time and the opportunity.
And there you have it: your complete guide to nailing your next job interview.
You got this.
