If you’re in the process of interviewing then effectively you’re in “sales mode”, selling yourself to a prospective employer – here are a few interview tips to consider straight from an HR Manager to give you some insider tips!
An important point to note is that the prospective employer is also in “sales mode” because they have an open position to fill and they are also trying to sell their company to you, if you’re the kind of person they are looking for.
Remember- if you’ve been invited for an interview they already think you might be who they are looking for , so you have a good head start. All you have to do is prove them right!
Here are the top interview tips that I look for as an HR Manager that a candidate can do to prove they are the right fit.
- Be on time . On time is 10 minutes early. That means at the reception desk letting the company/ firm know you are there 10 minutes before your interview time.
- Dress “up” . Always much better to be the best dressed person in the room than the worst. Make an effort. But don’t make too much effort. It’s a fine line between looking professional and looking like you’re off for a night on the town. Don’t wear things that distract attention. You want the interviewer to remember you, not you as “the guy with the huge watch/ girl with the jangly earrings”.
- Smile and make eye contact and do this a lot . Don’t fidget. Keep your hands on the table or on the arms of your chair. Lean forwards when the interviewer asks you a question and take a breath before you answer the question. This makes you look engaged and gives you time to think about your answer and compose yourself. Body language is a HUGE factor in the success or failure of interviews in the first 5-10 minutes.
- Do your research . Know who you are talking to, know something about the company you’re interviewing with and know the job description back to front and be able to use it to demonstrate why you are the person they are looking for. NEVER, ever go to an interview if you haven’t seen the job description. (Why are you even there if you haven’t seen the job description?!)
- Be polite, be courteous, ask smart questions
when given the opportunity to do so – come prepared with those questions and have them in front of you. Some good questions to ask are:
- What is the culture like in this organization and what type of people are successful here?
- Why do you love working here?
- If I am the successful candidate what could I do in my first month to really deliver value and confirm that you made the right choice in hiring me?
- When asked what your expectation of salary and benefits are be prepared to answer that question without being embarrassed or fumbling for an answer. (Hint- if you’ve seen the Job description or ad in the paper you already know what they are paying so base your response around that as a guideline!)
- Above all- enjoy the experience ! This is the most important of the interview tips, as not only will this put you in the right frame of mind, but will also arm you with confidence which is always something you want on your side in interview.
Whether you get the job or not interviewing is a really good learning and growth opportunity for you and meeting new people helps to build and establish your personal brand and your social capital so look on it as a good investment in time.
If you’re interested in reading more specific tips on interviewing, we’ve got a number of blogs written covering questions to ask at the end , how to answer competency interview questions as well as how to talk through your CV – feel free to have a read or speak to one of our consultants for more tailored advice!
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