Barden's Ed Heffernan shares some of his top tips to help you shine at your next interview.
Google interview tips and you get 365,000,000 results. They are, for the most part, vanilla and generic, regularly inaccurate and typically treat the reader as having close to zero common sense.
Here we are not going to tell you to “wear an inoffensive tie” or to “be sure to look at the company web page”. You’re smarter than that. We are smarter than that.
Here are a few insights, which go beyond the mundane and might add a little extra punch to your preparation and delivery:
- Know what the company does but, most importantly, know why it does what it does. What problem does it solve for its customers? What is its brand message? What does it convey to you and an outside observer? The more you know beyond the job description and ‘vanilla’ company information, the more you will stand out from the crowd.
- Get detail from your point of contact on context (for example, the percentage split of duties, team structure, systems and organisational structure) and use these insights to ‘dial up’ and ‘dial down’ your relevant experience.
- Get to the point. When asked “Tell me about yourself?” don’t spend the next 20 minutes talking about what you did on your internship 10 years ago (unless you are a graduate, of course). Do give a little context to your back-story, but keep the real detail for things that will be of interest and relevance to the people you are meeting. While you need to give detail on context, don’t get too granular. Allow the people you are meeting to ask for more detail on the areas that interest them.
- If there are more than two interviewers, balance your eye contact between both regardless of who asks the question. On eye contact, anything more than 70 per cent is a bit too intense. Try not to stare.
- Bring as little as possible with you to the interview. Jackets or big bags, for example, can be left at reception if needs be.
- A firm handshake, eye contact and a smile make for a lasting first impression. In the first couple of minutes, take a little responsibility for carrying the conversation – a few pleasantries about the office or the location can help break the ice and establish rapport.
- Remember, the people you are meeting are not necessarily professional interviewers and will, most likely, be hoping to make an impression on you. They are not, mostly, there to interrogate you.
- It is normal to be a little nervous – embrace it.
- Asking good questions at the end of the meeting is the very best way to engage your audience and get them talking about their company and their role. Be smart and don’t ask the standard or common questions. Instead, try to get under the bonnet of the business and role.
- Have fun and enjoy the experience. If you get the job, you are going to be spending a lot of time with these people so get to know them a little. Doing so will allow you to make an informed decision.
- And lastly, never, ever, sit down in reception. If you are standing, you will meet your host as an equal.
For more career advice and information, download your copy of Career Guide 2016 today.