5 tips to shine in interviews
If you are someone who dreads interviews & / or lives with the belief that you "don't interview well", then this is the post you need. Read on for my top tips to prepare for interviews and present the best version of yourself at any stage.
1: PREPARE
It may sound obvious, but the best way to overcome nerves and deliver excellent answers, is to prepare prepare prepare. Think of yourself as an actress auditioning for a movie role – wouldn't you learn your lines beforehand?
In terms of job interviews, there are the usual questions that you should prepare for, and these are the ones that most of us dread. Tell me about yourself, why did you leave your last job, what are your strengths & weaknesses etc. etc. What you want to do is prepare answers that present you as a good candidate. You are under no obligation to be totally honest, it's better to be selective. Let's say the question is "why did you leave your last job?", even if it's because you could no longer stand being micro-managed or a toxic environment, being completely honest will most likely make you look bad. It's better to say something that shows you are interested in your future, not dwelling on your past, such as: "I felt I had grown as much as I could within that company and felt ready to up-level and challenge myself, which is why I am really excited about this role".
2: PRACTICE
Now that you have worked on creating good answers for your questions, practice saying them until you feel completely natural.
This will give the impression in the interview that you are relaxed & confident, even if it's not how you feel inside.
I suggest saying the answers in front of a mirror at first, then to a friend / family member once you feel ready.
3: HAVE A GROWTH MINDSET
If you are feeling nervous because you are interviewing for a more senior role or moving towards career change, having a growth mindset is crucial. Even though you may not have experience in every aspect of the potential role, what the interviewers want to see is that you are confident in your ability to learn new things. You do this by thinking of times in the past when you overcame a challenge by learning something new. We all do this, all the time, it's nothing new. Be able to talk about times when you rose to the occasion and learned a new skill. This positivity & enthusiasm will go far in the interview.
4: PLAY DETECTIVE
These days interviews are not merely about finding the right match in terms of skills, companies also care that the candidate is the right match for the team culture and companies values. I would never suggest applying for a role at a company you don't align with, and you should research their workplace culture ahead of the interview. Check their website of course, but also their social media posts, to get a feel for the current vibe.
Once you are sure it seems like the right fit for you, your job is to highlight that in the interview. Demonstrate in your answers and questions, that you are the right fit for them. Show how you connect with their values. At the end of the day you will hopefully be working with these people, show them who you are and that you will fit in well.
5: TREAT IT LIKE A FIRST DATE
No that is not a mistake – interviews and dates overlap in many ways, and if you apply these techniques you will be way more attractive – whether on a date or in an interview ;)
Talk to the person / people in a natural and friendly way. Imagine you are chatting over a coffee about the possibility of working together. Don't be overly formal or uptight – these are real people so don't be afraid to show your personality and engage with them as equals.
Have questions prepared. It's essential that you ask questions, for two reasons. Firstly, you want to show genuine interest in the role, the company, their future plans, current challenges etc.
Secondly, you need to have the mindset that you are interviewing them too. Prepare questions about anything you are unclear of that will help you to decide if it's the right role for you. Maybe you prefer working from home and their policy is vague – ask for clarity. Perhaps you had a previous experience of being micro-managed, how can you tactfully enquire about the management style to put your own mind at ease.
You don't need to wait for them to ask you if you have questions at the end (though I suggest having plenty of questions prepared so if they do, you can still think of one or two), but weave them into the conversation naturally.
Would you go on a date, just hoping the other person liked you and not asking any questions to learn about them and whether you are a good match? I'm guessing no, so why would an interview be any different?
If you would like more support with this, you can book a 1-1 session or join us in my Personal Branding training which includes interview & negotiation training.
And be sure to check out my next post - how to talk about & negotiate your salary :)