It doesn’t take a briefcase stuffed with used fivers:
smarter prep can get you through the trickiest of interviews. Save the Student
has the inside scoop.
If you’ve nabbed an interview, you’ve nailed the biggest
hurdle: someone out there already believes you can do the job. Congrats. Your
CV has run a gauntlet of Ninja Warrior-like proportions – all you have
to do is dry off and do your piece to camera! Here’s a strategy to help you
shine.
1.
Get your X-Ray specs out
Want a heads-up on interview questions? The job
ad/description and any person spec they’ve thrown your way has the clues you
need (ask for them if you weren’t sent copies!). Look past the jaunty phrases
and try to pick out what they’re really saying – then get examples that
prove you’ve got the necessaries.
- Bags
of ideas: will you pull your weight? “Pitch me an idea for our next
marketing campaign”.
- Deep
knowledge of social media: can you keep us current, or are you bogged
down in Lolcats? “What do you think the next online trend will be, and
why?”
- Flexible
approach / willingness to adapt: are you more hands-on than home-time?
“Tell me about a time you put in extra effort to get a job done.”
Make a comprehensive list of potential Qs and As and
rehearse, rehearse, rehearse! If you need help, we’ve got killer answers to
tough interview questions right here.
2.
Read up on your employer
Pre-interview snooping – check company profiles at glassdoor
– can give you a sense if this is somewhere you want to work as much as help
predict questions:
- How
do they rate in their industry?
- What
awards have they won?
- Who
are their top players (or competition)?
- What’s
their business model?
- What
is it about them that appeals to you, and why are you a good fit?
- What
do you like (or not!) about their website/campaigns?
They key is looking critically and forming your own
opinions. If you’re asked “what do you know about us?” – tell them something
they don’t already know.
3.
Nix your nerves
Interviews are a two-way street: they’re as much about
answering your questions as about being grilled. Do you like your
interviewer? Do they make you feel welcome and at ease? Does the company give
you good vibes.
The point is, moving away from a desperate “OMG please hire
me” mindset gives you emotional distance – and clarity – and can make it easier
to be yourself and speak your piece. We’re not saying be arrogant or wear board
shorts. We are saying an interview isn’t trial-by-jury. It’s more like a
first date: you both need to match to make it work long term.
4.
Do the obvious
- Dry
run the interview – more than once if you can.
- Prep
your look in advance, polish your shoes and take care of the details so
you’re not distracted on the day: make a checklist.
- Being
late is an own goal. Always, always get there early (wait in a local caff
if you need to).
- Make
sure you understand the question and take a breath before doing your
spiel. Talk slowly.
- Stop
talking when you’ve made all your points – it’s the interviewer’s job to
fill awkward silence, not yours!
- It’s
not keyhole surgery: the
worst that can happen won’t be fatal. You’ve done the prep –
give it your best shot, enjoy it, and just see what happens!
- If
it doesn’t go your way, don’t take it personally – take something from it.
Review, revise, and aim to build a better burger.
5.
Take the long (long) view
Did you know starting interview prep a week before could be
at least six months too late? Getting the kind of experience, qualifications or
knowledge employers are after is a long-haul thing. That doesn’t mean you need
to panic – it just means scoping out job ads (or seeing what your career
‘heroes’ on have on their LinkedIn profiles) well before you start
applying. And then you work on getting the goods. Good luck, amigos!