With competition so high, it has never been more important to make a good impression at your interview.
To improve your chances against other candidates you need to stand out. Your CV may be better than some of your competitors but if your personality doesn’t shine through you may find that someone less qualified takes that last spot. You need to leave a lasting impression so that your interviewer remembers you over other candidates.
You can impress your interviewer with your personality and body language. You can also impress with your research skills as it shows that you have prepared for the interview, you are genuinely interested in the position and company, and that this isn’t ‘just a job’ for you.
We’ve put together some helpful tips and tricks to help you secure your next position:
What To Consider Before Your Job Interview
Research The Company
Before any interview, you must do your research! This isn’t a step to be skipped or rushed.
If you want to demonstrate that you are truly interested in the role and enthusiastic about the company, you must do research and have an understanding of:
- Company History
- Their mission, vision, and values
- Research the leadership team
- Ensure you understand the company’s products or services
- Make sure you fully understand the role you are applying for
Prepare Questions
By having questions prepared, you can really demonstrate your interest in the company and the position. Ask questions about the role and use your research of the company to ask thoughtful questions about the organisation’s direction and culture. Asking well-prepared questions will show that you have done your research and that you are enthusiastic.
It can be a good idea to jot down a few questions and take these in with you as some of your questions may be answered during the process, but your interviewer will be able to see that you came prepared.
Check The Job Description
There may have been some time lapse during your initial application and the interview so you must have another look at the job description before your interview. This will help you identify the abilities, experience, and qualifications needed to fill the role, and give clear examples to impress on the interviewer that you have the necessary skills and clearly understand what is required of you.
By doing this in advance, it will help to increase your confidence and negate any self-doubt or the dreaded ‘imposter syndrome’. After all, you wouldn’t have been selected for an interview if you didn’t fit the bill – so have confidence in yourself!
Consider Your Personal Strengths
On paper, you already have all the skills and qualifications for the role BUT it is important to highlight your strengths as they play a big part in showcasing your talents and convincing your interviewer that you are suitable for the role.
By understanding your abilities, you can align them with the role and provide examples of how you could help develop the company’s objectives.
Dress For The Occasion
Have you ever heard the phrase ‘dress for the job you want, not the job you have’? Well, this is something to bear in mind when getting ready for your interview.
To help you make sure you are dressing for the job, here are a few things you can do/consider:
- Look at the company website and research the company culture. Are they casual and comfortable, corporate and suited, or somewhere in between?
- Smart casual is usually a safe bet, and overdressed is usually better than underdressed.
- Get a second opinion! Ask a friend or family member to look at your options.
- Virtual interviews matter too! You still need to dress appropriately if the interview is by Teams/Skype!
While you want to make sure you ‘dress to impress’, you also need to be comfortable. Don’t let the day of your interview be the day that you wear painful shoes or restrictive clothes, this can be distracting!
Practice Your Interview Technique
Ask a friend or someone you trust to have a dress rehearsal. It can relieve nerves and give you inspiration if you struggle to express yourself in interviews.
While rehearsing can be a good idea, we don’t recommend preparing a script. This can come across as inauthentic. It also won’t allow your personality to shine through and will make it more difficult to build a genuine rapport with the interviewer.
Make sure you arrive on time
Tardiness is not ok! If you genuinely want the role you will do all you can to ensure that you are not late. If you are traveling across town or at peak times, set off earlier. Today is not the day to be late. It can leave your interviewer questioning your interest and reliability.
If you are unsure of the exact location of the interview, do a test run in advance, or follow the route on Google Maps – whatever you have to do to make sure you are on time!
You want to make a great impression and want the interviewer to remember you for all the right reasons.
Follow up after the interview
If you really want your interviewer to be impressed, following up by email can create a sense of professionalism, gratitude, and genuine interest – if done correctly.
Take the time to thank the interviewer for their time and reiterate your interest in the role. Don’t be over-enthusiastic – keep it professional. By reaching out after the interview you will be at the forefront of your interviewer’s mind.
To ensure an effective follow-up, it is important to follow a structured approach. Here are the key steps you could take:
- Send a thank-you email
- Mention any missed points
- Reference key parts of the conversation
If your interviewer asked you for any additional information, make sure you provide this in a timely manner as it will show that you are prioritising the role.
Final Thoughts
If you follow these steps, we are sure that you will land your dream role. Just remember, although we recommend being professional – this doesn’t mean that you can’t show the interviewer your personality.
There may be other candidates that potentially have more experience or skills BUT you may ‘pip them to the post’ if the interviewer can see that your personality would be a good fit for the company and their culture.
