How to interview brilliantly to get your dream job
Learn how to interview well and get the job you want rather than waste your energy applying for every suitable job available. This can drain your energy and leave you with insufficient time time for interview preparation. Think of interview preparation as project in itself, with various stages. Here are 27 key Interview Tips to help you prepare and get the dream job you want.
Interview Tip: How to be amazing
1. Focus on one industry sector at a time so that you can become knowledgeable in your specialist area before the interview. Read and subscribe to relevant blogs, trade journals magazines, and newspapers. Use web feed subscription tools such as Google reader to keep up-to-date on industry news.
2. Know what impression you want to make. In an interview you're essentially asking people to 'buy into you' so you need to know what 'added value' you offer before you go for an interview.
3. Know your competences and transferable skills and this will dramatically improve your CV and how you interview. Competences are the specific skills which are needed to perform the job and are usually outlined in the job application pack or advertisement. Transferable skills are your unique skills which you've developed through other jobs and personal interests and can differentiate you from the competition
4. Check that your social media profile is consistent with your CV profile as many employers now check out applicants online. For example, Facebook, Linked-in, trade and professional networks. Social networks can also be used effectively to network for work opportunities.
5. Work as a volunteer. Only one thing gets people stressed more than work and that's not working! You can use the experience to broaden your skills and demonstrate self-motivation.
6. Join a local business or social network. They offer a great opportunity to practise social skills with strangers such as: starting up a conversation, smiling, actively listening to others, asking questions and promoting yourself. These are key interpersonal skills which will improve your confidence in an interview.
7. Setting career objectives. Be clear about your career goals and take a step by step approach to achieve your dream job. Learn your personal career barriers and how to overcome them.
8. Improve your interview self-confidence whilst you're looking for a job. Use the help of subliminal messaging software to keep up your motivation and self confidence during the job hunt.
Interview Tip: Your CV is the basis for every interview
Initially a recruiter will spend about a minute looking through each job application but once you're selected for an interview your CV will directly influence the interview questions you'll be asked.
9. Don't bluff on a CV as the interviewer will almost certainly trip you up in the interview and you'll have done yourself no favours.
10. Keep your CV relevant and consistent with what they'll discover in an interview. Focus on your competences that match the competences outlined in the job application pack.
11. Include transferable skills on your CV as these strengths can give you a competitive edge.
12. Tailor your CV for each job application and use the best format for the job depending on your experience. Chronological CV are the most common but a Qualification Based CV can promote your skills better if your have recently qualified or retrained. A Skills Based CV is good for people who've had a career break or are changing careers. However if the company asks for your CV in a specific format you must comply.
13. Avoid the most common CV mistake. Substantiate your CV. This is one of the most important interview tips because if you do this it will differentiate your CV from the majority of applications. Go through your CV with a 'fine-tooth comb' and ask yourself, 'How do I do this?' against each statement. Descriptive words such as 'innovative' 'good with people' are meaningless unless you can substantiate them.
Interview Tip: How to interview brilliantly
14. Interview preparation is the best way to dispel interview nerves and improve your chance of being offered the job.
15. Prepare answers to interview questions. Draw up a list of interview questions which challenge every claim you've made on your CV. If it says on your CV that you managed a sales campaigns ask yourself,'What quantity of sales?', 'How profitable were they?', 'How did I manage?', 'What did I learn?' Practise your answers.
16. Prepare answers to common communication interview questions. Communication skills are an essential competence for most jobs so be prepared to interview ten of the most common communication questions before you go to the interview.
17. Try using the STAR system for responding to competence based questions such as 'Describe a situation where a conflict arose in your team. What did you do?'
S: First describe the situation you were in
T: Describe the task that was involved
A: The action that you took (be careful to say I and not we in this situation)
R: Explain what the result was
18. Identify two anecdotes to support each of your key strengths. For example, if you're applying for a leadership position you might focus on achieving goals and motivating others. Practise telling the anecdotes out loud in the much the same way that you would tell a story to a senior colleague at work. Keep the anecdote brief and to the point.
19. Acknowledge a genuine weakness or failure in a project. This is more appealing than candidates who try to disguise difficulties with trite answers. Show how you've learnt from the experience and gained empathy with others.
20. Demonstrate your knowledge of the company when answering interview questions such as 'Why do you want to work for us?' and 'What will you be doing in five years time?'.
21. Always have questions to ask the interviewer otherwise it looks like you're not interested in the job. Use research to strengthen your questions. For example ask, 'How will my performance be measured?', How will you know if I'm doing well?', 'Are there any aspects of my application where you need further evidence?' This gives you an opportunity to address any of their niggling concerns.
22. Know how to dress for an interview. This doesn't mean you have to dress in a dreary way. Select your outfit by dressing for the role, culture, interviewer and yourself.
23. Spend more time on personal grooming on the day of the interview. This will help you feel more confident and relaxed.
24. Practise your answers to the questions out loud. Video yourself in a mock interview. This is particularly useful for checking body language. You need good eye contact and an open stance (no folded arms), sit up straight but relaxed and without fidgeting.
25. Double check all interview arrangements a day before the interview.
26. On the day, relax. You've done your interview preparation. Smile and go in to the interview looking to build up a rapport. Generally it's not your qualifications or experience that will get you the job but what the interviewer thinks of you as a person. Even if you don't get this job, if they like and trust you, they may call you back for another role.
27. Follow up the interview with a short letter saying that you're enthusiastic about being offered this job and determined to demonstrate the contribution you can make to their company. It may sound 'cheesy' but reinforcing your commitment could help you get your dream job.
Copyright Elizabeth Conley 2010
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