Tips To Guide You Through the Interviewing Process

Moving between two jobs can be a nerve-wracking experience, but the most challenging part is definitely the interview itself. When armed with the right information, though, interviewees can relax and focus on what’s really important: selling their brand and highlighting relevant experience.

 

A person who knows how to articulate strengths without boasting, describe mistakes without defensiveness and conveys passion, friendliness, and sincerity while remaining professional, gives the best interview.

 

The good news is that it is not too difficult to improve one’s interviewing ability. But even though practice makes perfect sounding too practised will work against you. Employers are just as afraid as the candidates of making the wrong hiring decision and, as no one can predict the future, a hiring decision is largely based on trust. Sounding too rehearsed makes you sound insincere, which undermines trust.

 

How to get better at interviewing?

Rather than rehearsing answers to all the possible questions an employer could ask, focus on these two and the rest will follow:

 

1. Why should this employer hire you?

2. Why do you want this job?

 

These are the fundamental questions that all interviewers seek to answer and in that order, because you don’t really know why or if you want this job until you learn more about the people, the role, the future, the company etc. Think about all aspects of these questions and then write them down. This exercise mentally cements your case. It gives you the foundation from which you can articulate all points which strengthen this case.

 

The ability to articulate your strengths and desires, backed up by examples from your experience is crucial to your success as an interviewee. Attitude is critical. Concentrate on promoting yourself and at no point signal ambivalence. Here are some basic tips to guide you through the interviewing process:

 

Create a good first impression

Most interviewers know within the first five minutes if they like someone or not. Project enthusiasm, shake hands firmly and know how to pronounce the interviewer’s name. Do not be late. Sounds like a given but factors like parking/traffic are often overlooked. Do not wear scent. Smell is the most primitive of all human senses. If you wear a scent that reminds your interviewer of someone he or she doesn’t like, whether consciously or subconsciously, the interviewer will look at you through this filter, and you will already have an unfair strike against you.

 

Show passion

Top performers need passion to get the most out of themselves and their team. It doesn’t matter whether it’s passion for life, sports, work, brands, and/or your product/service, once you have it. Don’t be afraid to let this come through.

 

The purpose of the first meeting is to get the second one, the purpose of the second one is to get a job offer

You want to be in the driver’s seat and in a position to say yes or no.

 

Ask questions in terms of what’s in it for the employer, not you

E.g. Why are you looking to fill this role? What problems are you looking to solve or what situations are you looking to improve?

 

Be true to yourself

Typically, interviews do not feel natural. Still, try not to let your professional appearance mask your personality. Interviewers need to get a sense of who you are to strengthen that trust factor.

 

Answer questions appropriately

There is a surprisingly fine line between volunteering enough information to thoroughly answer a question and going off on an irrelevant tangent. Be honest in your answers, while focusing them on the employer’s specific needs.

 

Do not talk negatively

Whether it’s about the past or current employers. Do not bring up salary/benefits, etc. prematurely.

 

Close at the end

Reiterate your interest in the job and ask about the next step. The one who conveys they want the job the most has the best chance. Remain professional and upbeat to the end, even if you are not interested in the job. All interviews can be invaluable networking opportunities down the road.

 

Understanding how to conduct an interview can be daunting. But it’s an essential part of a successful hiring process so make sure to be yourself and represent your brand.