Congratulations! You’ve been asked to attend an interview!

 

“Fail to prepare and prepare to fail”, this quote couldn’t be more appropriate when it comes to preparing for an interview.

 

By demonstrating to the Interviewer you have taken time to prepare for the opportunity you are showing enthusiasm, dedication and that you are serious about the position. Being prepared will boost your confidence and you can ensure you show your best you.

 

King Recruit have devised some tips on how to prepare!

 

BRAND RESEARCH

 

The Company’s website is the best place to start research. The about us, services, products and brand pages are a goldmine of information. Make notes about the company history, their mission statement and their employee values, use this information to plan some of your answers.

Have a look for your Interviewer’s profile on the Company page or LinkedIn, is there any common ground between the two of you?

Search the company on the web, specifically for any recent news articles; if they have won new contracts or business, or if they have made any key hires or won any awards. If the company hasn’t featured recently in the news search trends or big news within their industry, by keeping up to date on topical issues you will come across as informed and knowledgeable.

 

LEARN YOUR CV

 

Learn your CV! When the Interviewer questions you regarding the content you can talk naturally and fluently about your history, projects or key achievements. It’s a good idea to ask HR for an official copy of current your job role, there can be elements to your position that have been forgotten.

Go over your key achievements, how can you apply these to match the job role? You want to make it easy for the interviewer to see how you will fit perfectly into their position.

 

MOCK INTERVIEWS

 

Ask another professional or someone you trust to help you practice standard interview questions and competency-based interview questions. Practising out loud will stop you from ‘rambling’ on the day and help you to communicate effectively, ask your Mock Interviewer for feedback on your performance.

 

DEVISE YOUR QUESTIONS

 

Your interview will inevitably start with small talk, this may seem minor but it’s very important to start to build a rapport with your Interviewer. Have a think about anything topical at the moment such as a sports game, something in the news, make sure you can contribute with an interesting thought or opinion of your own.

Make sure you think of questions to ask that will make you stand out, Interviewers are impressed by candidates with an enthusiastic attitude who have gone the extra mile to prepare.

If you view your Interviewer’s LinkedIn profile it’s important to not comment on personal information you’ve identified through the search, keep it professional.

Link your questions to information that you have identified to show preparation and insight. For example, if you can see that the Company has launched a new product or grown by acquisition ask how this will affect the growth of the role.

Try and avoid questions regarding pay or benefits, these types of questions can be discussed at the offer stage.

 

WHAT TO WEAR

 

The first seven seconds in which you meet somebody, according to science, is when you’ll make a first impression! Therefore your interview outfit is key. Within the workplace, there is such a variety in what people wear to work, have a look at social media or YouTube to see what the dress code is, what are their employee’s wearing to ensure you aren’t overdressed or to give you a guide on what to wear.

If you are unsure what the dress code is….ask.

Dressing professionally will help your skills, achievements and personality to shine through, dress for how you want to feel and portray yourself in your interview. Ensure that your outfit is comfortable, nothing can detract more from your answers if you are having to adjust your clothes!

 

PLAN YOUR JOURNEY

 

Research your route the night before ensuring you leave plenty of time in case of any delay. If you are relying on public transport research different options just in case of unforeseen circumstances. Always look at the worst-case scenario. Regardless of what time you arrive don’t report to reception until 10 minutes before your interview time.

 

WHAT TO TAKE

 

Before you set off write down the company address, contact number, interview time and name and title of your interviewer just in case!

It’s always a good idea to take extra copies of your CV or portfolio in case the interviewer brings a colleague in to the meeting. Having this to hand will show your organisational skills.

 

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE.

 

Most recruitment processes will include the hiring manager and a representative from HR.

An interview with the hiring manager will generally focus on the technical aspect of the job, and the discussions will focus on relevant experience, skills and achievements.

An Interview with the HR Manager will be about how you would fit in with the company culture, this is a perfect chance to show what you have learnt about the company and how your values match theirs.

 

UNCONSCIOUS BIAS

 

Unconscious bias can be defined as an assumption about different types of people and it is the tendency, we all have to favour those who share the same characteristics, as well as those we consider to be charming and attractive. However, don’t be discouraged, there are many ways to ensure an interviewer doesn’t apply their unconscious biases to you.

Mirror speech and behaviours – Knowing that we tend to favour those who act like us, it’s a good idea to match the way you speak and behave in an interview with your interviewer. For example, if they speak very formally, then you should do the same.

Address the bias – Don’t be afraid to mention a particular bias you faced in a previous role and how you overcame it. For example, your age may have led people to overlook you for promotion, so talk about what you did to address this. However, be careful not to insinuate that the interviewer is biased against you.

Build rapport – Look for opportunities to form a personal connection with the interviewer. This can often be done when you talk about your hobbies and interests, or when making small talk. If you notice something sparks their interest, then delve deeper into this topic. You can also ask them what they like about working at the company to learn more about their motivations and find a point of potential connection.

Contact Us.

For CV advice or advice on any aspect of the job application process, please contact one of our friendly team at King Recruit on 01392 790725.

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