12 Key Factors For Interview Success
1. Get Ready, Get Set, Get Prepared
Prioritise learning: Familiarise yourself with the prospective employer's culture, key challenges, and the specifics of the role you're applying for. Demonstrating your interest and understanding will set you apart.
Organisation’s online presence: Visit the organisation’s website, their LinkedIn profile, see how they present themselves online. You will also get a good insight into where they see themselves in their industry and the way they want the rest of the world to see them: innovation, customer focus, employee care, etc. You will gain an understanding of how the organisation sees itself and wants to be seen and provide some good talking points at interview.
2. Utilise the STAR Method
Situation, task, action, result: Structure your responses to clearly articulate how you've successfully navigated relevant challenges in past roles. Will also allow you to get back on track if there is an off-topic discussion during your answer.
3. Craft Multiple Relevant Stories
Prepare for versatility: Develop a range of anecdotes that highlight your skills and experiences, tailoring them to address the diverse aspects of the job you're aiming for. Base the anecdotes on actual events and refer to a situation that relates to the question and how you dealt with it, the outcome, and what you learned. Be prepared for clarifying questions, so, again, ensure you are referring to actual events.
4. Nail the First 5 Minutes
Create a strong initial impression: Begin with confident and clear communication. A friendly compliment or remark can be a great icebreaker to establish rapport. Thanking the interviewer/s for inviting you to meet with them is a nice way to acknowledge that you value their time and take this process very seriously.
5. Be Honest and Genuine
Value integrity: Always be truthful in your responses. Authenticity resonates well in professional settings and helps build trust. Acknowledge truthfulness, professionalism, and integrity in others; to praise and recognise someone with no immediate benefit to yourself is an indicator of high personal values. At the same time be prepared to talk about how you dealt with difficult situations or when plans went awry. That things go wrong is not the issue, but rather how you respond and learn.
6. Avoid Negativity
Emphasise positivity: Focus on the positive aspects of your previous experiences. Discuss challenges constructively, highlighting what you have learned and how you have grown. As tempting as it may be don’t complain about a previous employer or colleagues, rather consider that the organisation interviewing you and maybe employing you will be a former employer eventually as well. Discretion demonstrated will be a big plus.
7. Highlight Yourself and Your Potential
Promote your growth potential: Emphasise your eagerness to learn and adapt. Provide concrete examples of your achievements and how they align with the needs of the prospective employer. Provide genuine examples of what you have done, innovations, new ways of working, cost savings, time savings and value add to customers. Good examples that you can talk about with authority are worth their weight in gold.
8. Find the Right Balance
Detail oriented yet concise: Offer sufficient detail in your responses to showcase your qualifications without overwhelming the interviewer. ‘Nuff said.
9. Take Time to Think
Consider your answers thoughtfully: It’s perfectly acceptable to take a brief moment to think before responding, especially to complex questions. This shows careful consideration and attention to detail. Equally, if asking a question of the interviewers give them time to think about their answer; this will demonstrate a thoughtful approach to interactions and respect for another person’s thinking time.
10. Manage Difficult Moments
Keep composed and redirect: If you find yourself in a tricky part of the interview, remain calm and steer the conversation towards your strengths and readiness for the role. Preparation can also be very helpful, for example knowing that gap in your resume is to be commented on be prepared to explain why it is there.
11. Ask Thoughtful Questions
Demonstrate your insight: Pose questions that show you've done your research and are genuinely interested in how you can contribute to their success. While this is a great way to demonstrate your interest in an organisation note that if much of the question has already been answered in the preceding you may encounter the dreaded: “well, we spoke about this earlier…”
Prepare questions beforehand but mentally cross out the question if it comes up. Better still, if the meeting is online have the questions written down and the cross them out as they are answered.
12. Remember, The Interview Doesn’t End at the Door
Make a lasting impression: Send a thank-you email post-interview, summarising key points discussed and expressing your enthusiasm for the opportunity.
Additional Tips for Your Interview
Dress Appropriately
Ensure your attire slightly exceeds or matches the professional standards expected by the potential employer.
Plan Your Journey
Ensure punctuality by planning your travel route and time in advance. If you are going to run late phone ahead as soon as possible.
Bring Necessary Documents
Have copies of your CV, references, and any other pertinent documents ready for review.
Common Interview Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Navigating an interview smoothly requires awareness and preparation. Here are some frequent areas where candidates might trip up, along with strategies to avoid these pitfalls:
Over-Elaborating
Keep It Concise: While detail is important, over-talking can dilute the impact of your answers. Practice concise responses that stay on point to keep the interviewer engaged.
Using "We" Instead of "I"
Emphasise Personal Contribution: It's great to be a team player, but employers also want to see your individual contributions. Use "I" when discussing specific actions, you took or results you achieved to clearly define your role and impact.
Failing to Read the Room
Be Observant: Pay attention to the interviewer’s body language and feedback. If they seem disengaged or if they’re checking the time, it might be a cue to shorten your answers or shift the focus of the conversation.
Insufficient Company Research
Do Your Homework: A common mistake is not knowing enough about the company or the role. Research thoroughly to demonstrate your genuine interest and how your skills align with the company’s goals.
Not Preparing for Common Questions
Anticipate and Practice: Candidates often stumble on typical interview questions like "What's your biggest weakness?" or "Where do you see yourself in five years?" Prepare thoughtful responses in advance to navigate these smoothly.