So, your outstanding CV got you to the interview stage? Well done! Now let’s get prepared for the interview. Our aim is to help you nail the interview! How will you get your interview questions right? Read further.
No matter their age, experience, or position, most candidates feel under pressure during interviews. You will be facing a hiring manager who will judge your accomplishment, skills, aptitude, personality, character, ethics, and motivation. And let’s not forget about your ability to fit in the firm, or even your promise for the future. It gets even more stressful when you will face not just one manager, but a panel of interviewers.
However, with some preparation, you can nail the next job interview
Type of interview
In general, you may go through 3 phases of an interview – phone, remote, and in-person.
The phone interview is mainly a pre-screening (barely 10 minutes) to allow the recruiter to see if your profile matches the requirements for the open position. Do not be surprised if you are questioned on your salary expectations and availability. Your interviewer is simply filling the missing parts from your CV. During the call, you may also be assessed on your language skills (fluency, vocabulary, and articulation).
Since the start of the pandemic, companies are shifting from in-person to remote interviews – usually via Zoom. Unfortunately, many are so flustered by the technology that they pay little attention to the details that make the difference to clinch a job offer:
- Being late for the interview
- Not practising with the technology beforehand
- Interviewing with a messy background
- Poor lighting
- Distractions
- Choosing the wrong outfit
- Low bandwidth
Most employers favour in-person interviews for roles that require strong social skills (client-facing or leadership positions). Depending on the seniority of the role, there may be one to three levels of in-person interviews. Essentially, the hiring manager needs to clarify three critical elements:
- Can you do the job?
- Do you really want the job?
- Will you fit in?
7 tips to ensure you nail your interview
- Investigate the company.
There are multiple sources of information (website, social media, LinkedIn, CBRS, financial statements, brochures, friends or ex-colleagues) to help you get a solid sense of what the company does and how they are performing.
- Research about your role.
Carefully review the job description and make a list of the required skills, qualifications, and responsibilities. Identify how your own experience, skills, and achievements align with the job requirements. This will help you showcase your suitability during the interview.
- Find out all you can about the interviewer(s).
Usually, you will be told ahead of time who you’ll be meeting (their name and job title). Use this information to research your interviewer(s) and get a sense of what they do and how they do it.
- Anticipate the questions.
You will feel prepared and less caught off-guard if you anticipate the questions and prepare the answers.
- Dress appropriately.
It is easy to be under or overdressed for an interview. Get a feel for the company’s dress code by looking at the website, else use your judgement based on the industry standards.
- Prepare thoughtful questions
Prepare a list of insightful questions to ask the interviewer. This demonstrates your interest in the role and the company. Avoid questions that can be easily answered by a quick Google search. Instead, ask about the company’s future plans, team dynamics, or growth opportunities within the organization.
- A “Thank You” note.
After the interview, drop an email to thank the interviewer(s) and seize the opportunity to highlight the discussions and reiterate your desire to join the firm. You’ll also have the opportunity to mention anything you wish you had said during the interview but didn’t get the chance to discuss.
