Interview Advice

Congratulations, you have secured an interview! If you haven’t started preparing for this, you need to now!

Getting there

• Note the time and location of the interview. Find out how long it will take you to get there at the time of day your interview is being held. i.e. if you are driving and the time of your interview means travelling through rush hour, you will need to allow more time to get there than if the interview was being held mid-morning or mid-afternoon.
• If you are driving, make sure you know where you can park and whether you will require change for a parking meter. Alternatively, you may decide to set up the relevant parking app on your phone, such as Ringo.
• If you are travelling on public transport, check for planned works on your route for the day of your interview.
• If you have time, practice the route using the method of transport you will be using on the day.

Preparation

• What is the name of the person who is interviewing you? What is their job title? Research the company on the web to make sure you understand what their business entails, the services or products they offer. Get a feel for the company based on the information laid out. Check the testimonials page to see what their customers say. Take a look at the “Meet The Team” page, if they have one, to see more information about the person conducting the interview. If they don’t have that page, look them up on LinkedIn. At the interview, if you can bring up something they’ve mentioned in their bio, they’ll be flattered!
• What are you going to wear? If in doubt, go smart! Overdressed is always better than underdressed. A suit, shirt and tie combination usually works best for men. For women, it can be trickier – remember to think ‘smart’ and consider the question ‘would I wear this on a Friday night out?’ If the answer is ‘yes’, it’s probably not smart enough. Better to pick something you would wear if you had to appear in court!
• Prepare some questions before you go. These should be thoughtful and be designed to draw out further information about the company and the role you are applying for. You could ask about the team you will be working with. Ask the interviewer what their favourite part about working at the company is. Ask them how the company measures success – then you will be clearer about what you’re aiming for if you get the job! Do NOT ask about pay rises and holiday allowance – this is not the time for it and will make you appear self-serving.

Now it's the big day

• Watch your body language! Interviewers will expect some nerves and the good ones will do their best to put you at ease. You can help yourself feel more relaxed by being prepared: you’ve researched the company, the role and the interviewer so you know what you’re doing there. You know your own work history and the skills and experience you have to offer. So, sit up, lean into the interviewer to show interest, meet their eyes (don’t stare them out, but eye contact is a positive gesture suggesting authenticity and openness). You can also help yourself feel less stressed by making sure you arrive in plenty of time!
• Think of examples you can use to show you can do the job. Stories of dealing with similar responsibilities, handing difficult or challenging, are evidence in your favour.

What Next?

• At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for their time, say you enjoyed meeting them and express your interest in the role by asking when you can expect to hear from them and what the next steps will be. Tell them you look forward to hearing from them and would welcome the opportunity to work with them.
• Once you have left, call us! Tell us how you think it went and what you are hoping will happen next. Our clients often call us promptly after a candidate has left an interview. If they are interested in you and hear that we have already heard from you, and that you loved their company, it sets you up even more favourably for the next stage!