How to prepare for an interview
For any interview, the key to being successful is preparation. At this stage, you should be well-researched in the job role and know your CV fully. You should prepare questions for the interview as organisations will look for this during interviewing, selecting the most targeted candidate for the role. You may have to face more than one interview in this hiring process:
Telephone Interviews
Over the phone interviews are used early in the interview stage. Phone interviews can be intimidating as you cannot see the person conducting them. For telephone interviews, you should:
Sound clear and confident - Importance is placed on the tone of voice when speaking on the phone. Ensure you are in a quiet area so your voice comes through more clearly. In addition, speak with confidence and assurance to demonstrate to the employer your understanding of the role.
Avoid interruptions - You cannot see the interviewer, so it can be difficult to notice their intention to speak. After each sentence, pause so the interviewer can make any additional comments.
Make notes - Notes can be helpful in keeping your thoughts unscrambled, just avoid sounding like you are reading from a script.
Have a drink nearby - Nerves can cause a dry mouth! Have a glass of water nearby to avoid you speaking inarticulately.
Online Interviews
Online interviews have become more popular amongst employers during Covid, as working remotely forced more companies to become more digital. Unlike telephone interviews, the employer will see you, as it is expected you use your camera. With an online interview, you should:
Establish a professional environment - Familiarise yourself with the software to avoid technical issues. Ensure your camera sits at eye level, maintaining eye contact throughout the interview and sitting at a reasonable distance from the screen. Avoid disturbances to present yourself as prepared and willing.
Dress appropriately - The interviewer will be able to see you and make judgements on your appearance. Dress neatly to show yourself in a professional light. If you are badly dressed, this will make you look unready and unfit for the role.
Note prompts - Refer to your notes sparingly. If the interviewer sees you consistently looking down, you will look distracted.
‘Show up’ early - Similarly to an in-person interview, you want to log on a little earlier. You will look willing to recruiters, and you can use this additional time to prepare any notes you have.
Face To Face Interviews
Since the pandemic, we have become more comfortable and familiar with working behind screens, so it can be daunting to go to an in-person interview. To prepare, you should:
Present yourself appropriately - Employers are going to see you entirely; they can read your body language and facial expressions with ease. Maintain strong eye contact, good posture, and dress neatly to conduct yourself engagingly.
Be punctual - You can’t blame bad phone connection/internet for delays. Reach the interview location way before the scheduled time. This gives you time to unwind and plan responses before the interview.
Do your research! - Before any interview, you should be prepared in knowing the job’s roles and requirements, as well as your CV. Show enthusiasm and willingness by preparing questions to ask at the end of the interview, you could ask, for example:
What are the day-to-day responsibilities for the role?
What professional development opportunities do you offer?
Where does the company want to be in 5 years?
Will training be provided by the organisation?
For other question ideas, you could look at this article - https://www.themuse.com/advice/51-interview-questions-you-should-be-asking
Any other questions on what to expect on interviews, you can contact us on info@winrecruitmentservices.co.uk