How to nail an interview

You’ve applied for your dream role. Now you have been invited for an interview. This can be the most daunting part of the recruitment process but it needn’t be as you can train yourself to be more confident on interviews. There are plenty of useful tools available online, here Career 22 brings you a few to help you prepare for the big day:

Be competent at competency-based questions

More often than not, employers opt to ask competency-based interview questions which can often unnerve people, but preparing for all types of questions can go in your favour. The chances are you can tailor your rehearsed answers to suit the type of question asked. Be prepared for questions on: leadership; being part of a team; dealing with conflict; going beyond the call of duty for a customer/client etc.

There are also lists of competency based questions online.

Remember ‘STAR’ technique

When explaining your answers in an interview, it is tricky not to sound like you are waffling. To prevent this, stick to the STAR technique when asked to explain what you did or your past experiences. This technique is particularly useful in competency based questions (see above). STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result, as these are what your potential employer will be looking for. It not only demonstrates your suitability for the role but also how you deal with situations and reveals a little about your personality too.

Show your personality – you’re unique

If you can convince your interviewer that you can do the job; possess the right skills and experience; and are a “hardworking team player who copes well under pressure”, you’ve probably got the job, right? Wrong! More often than not, employers want to see your personality too and are constantly gauging how you may (or may not) fit into the team as you are talking. Be sure to let your personality shine during interviews, as well as your impressive skillset.

Dress for the job you want

There is a saying “dress for the job you want, not the job you have” and, when it comes to job interviews, that is certainly true. Making a positive first impression is very important – whether the interview is on Teams, Zoom, or another online platform, or in person – what you wear and how you present yourself is very important. If you are invited to a virtual interview, don’t be relaxed about your attire, as you would on a usual working from home day, this could be your first mistake and your prospective employer may write you off before you even speak. So take off the hoodie and sports kit and opt for something more formal and professional – it is an interview after all.