How to Nail That Job Interview

Land a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life! So, what are the tips and tricks that can help you nail that job interview?

DO YOUR RESEARCH

A little research goes a long way. Get to know the company you’re interviewing for and pay particular attention to ways you can improve their processes.

A great way to tailor and target your interview information to a specific company is to sign up to services like Google Alerts which delivers all the research to your inbox.

Another handy hint is to pay attention to your company’s LinkedIn page. Follow their Twitter and Facebook stream too. The bottom line is you want to learn about the company’s business, history and culture so that you can win brownie points at the interview.

LOOK UP COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

We’re blessed with Google, so use it! Look up the most common interview questions and make sure you can answer them. We recommend practising your answers in front of a friend or family member.

BEHAVIOURAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Go one step beyond researching common interview questions and research behavioural interview questions. Behavioural interview questions assume that past behaviour is an indication of future behaviour. Instead of asking how you would behave, hiring managers will ask how you did behave. Example: how did you deal with conflict within your team?

It’s crucial to adhere to what’s called the CAR principle: Context, Action, Result, when answering behavioural interview questions;

Context is about describing a situation and setting the scene for a relevant example.

Action is about explaining what action you took.

Result is about detailing the outcome of your action.

If you are able to provide specific examples around the CAR principle, you’ll be well on your way to thoroughly impressing the hiring manager.

BE UPBEAT AND CONFIDENT

Nobody is going to hire a Debbie Downer. Answer any questions thrown your way with authenticity and confidence. Keep your questions short and sweet and remember to tout your accomplishments. Oh, and never badmouth your previous employer/s – it is a big no-no and could cost you the role.

SELL YOURSELF

An adage in interviewing says the most qualified isn’t always the one who gets hired. Picture yourself as a salesperson: why should they hire you? How do your accomplishments and strengths fit in with the company’s goals? We recommend looking at the job description and outlining how you can do just that.

ASK QUESTIONS

Not preparing good questions for your interview can cost you big. People want to see that you are genuinely interested in their business, so be prepared to answer why you are interested in the position and organisation above others.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Seems a little obvious but so many people don’t understand the importance of dressing the part. Plan your outfit around the culture of the company and remember; it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed.

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