How to ace that job interview
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If you are preparing for an interview, well done on getting offered the chance! Getting to this stage suggests you’ve got some skills and experience the employer is interested in. The interview really is a chance to shine. And whilst you may have the most to ‘gain’ from the conversation – in being offered a job – this really is a two way process. You will get a chance to see if ‘the grass’ really does look greener. Or to put it another way, you will get a chance to see if making the move could be a good idea for you, if offered.
So, having been offered an interview, how should you go about preparing for it? Preparation really is everything! Here are some pointers.
Before the interview
Remind yourself why you have applied for the position. Is it to develop your career, learn some new skills? Is there something in this new role that you are really keen about, for instance coordinating volunteers, communicating more with visitors or more site management?
Depending on what stage your career is at, you may actually know someone who works in the organisation, or somewhere very similar. It’s definitely worth asking them for some insight into the company/role and what might come up at interview.
Look at your application, what stands out? What do you think they will ask you about?
Make sure you’ve followed the organisation’s social media accounts, what are their ‘good news’ stories? Being aware of these will be really useful during your interview, and any other conversations you have with staff on the day.
If you are looking to move ‘sector’, for instance from a local authority role to a charity one, how could you ‘sell’ the positives from this move? Have you gained experience or contacts that will add something a bit different to the new organisation? And if contact with under 18’s will happen, get up to speed on safeguarding!
It’s worth thinking through what questions you might get asked and how you will answer these. It’s worth having a handful of examples that you can adapt to different questions, e.g. about showing initiative, problem solving and time management.
Find someone (friend, family, careers adviser) who can run through these questions with you. This will really help you ‘polish’ the answers, so your answers come across well, rather than ‘stumbled’.
Not only do you need to prepare answers to questions you might be asked, but plan 2 or 3 that you can ask them. For instance questions centred around how the job could develop or lead onto, or possible training. These will help you come across as interested in the role, rather than just the benefits!
Plan your route. This is so much easier with things like Google Maps. And if this may cause you stress on the day, there’s no harm in having a practise run or two, so that you know what the journey will be like.
What are you going to wear? What you wear should help you feel confident and positive. Depending on the role, it might be worth asking if you’ll need anything like boots with you, if you’re going to be shown around.
Perhaps the biggest ‘prep’ task is to actively image why you’d be the best person for the job. Think through how you’d make an impact in the job, why you’d make this impact, the values and motivation you’d bring to it that would add to your performance in the role.
And finally to wrap this section up, try to put yourself in their shoes – what are they likely to want to see? This preparation is about giving you the best chance to showcase your own skills, experience and values.
On the day
It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous! And nerves can help you perform better. Interviews can feel like a very formal and awkward conversation. And not all interviewers will have had training on how to interview others. If you are feeling nervous, some deep breathing will help to slow your heart rate down. And do try to give enough in your answers to help the conversation flow! This will help the interviewer if they are feeling nervous too.
It is worth remembering that as soon as you arrive, everyone that you talk to at the organisation may be asked for feedback about you. So if someone shows you around or meets you in reception, be polite and positive. This is where knowing what the ‘good news’ stories are can help you make small talk!
Be positive in your answers, don’t undersell what you have done! Do talk about how your actions have created impact in different situations.
And don’t forget at the end…. Ask questions!
Afterwards
What now? You may get a phone call the same day or you may have to wait some time to find out whether you’ve been offered the job or not, annoying as this will be. Whatever the result, do get some feedback about the interview. If you don’t get the job, it is even more important that you ask for feedback, perhaps once the disappointment has dispersed. Why? This feedback, if constructive and detailed enough, can be vital to plan your professional development over the next 6-18 months. Are you lacking some skills or experience for instance? How could you address these gaps? Going into your shell at this point won’t help with your next application – and there will be one at some point! How to address the feedback might involve seeking opportunities in your current role or looking for volunteering opportunities.
Mark Yates
Careers Adviser
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