How to make your interview successful
The 7 Lucky Maximus tips on how to deliver a successful interview….
1) Before the interview:
- Research the client, their history and market – greater knowledge shows greater interest.
- Map out your journey clearly, factoring in time for any possible delays.
- Visualise the interview in a positive manner.
- Take a copy of your CV to the interview. Familiarise yourself with it and use as an aide memoir if necessary.
- First impressions are vital – dress the part & look healthy.
- Devising good questions for your interview is essential; it separates the best candidates from the worst.
2) First Impressions/During the Interview:
- Meet your interviewer in positive & professional manner by standing up, smiling and shaking their hand firmly.
- Remember you never get a second chance to create a great first impression so ensure it’s a good one.
- Smile, empathise and show genuine interest whilst the interviewer introduces their company. This builds trust and rapport quickly.
- Take notes at the interview as it demonstrates your interest in the job and how important it is to you.
3) Addressing the need:
- Ask the interviewer exactly what they’re looking for from the ideal candidate. This will help you sell yourself in the most appropriate way: Focussing on exactly what they want.
4) Negative scenarios/questions:
- Being asked a question you don’t know the answer to can be a difficult scenario to find yourself in, so it’s always useful to know your weaknesses as well as your strengths prior. Firstly be truthful, honest and up-front. Empathise with them but then provide a parallel option. Describe something very similar you’ve worked with in the past or a time where you’ve had to learn something new in a quick time frame. Your main objective should be to turn any negative points around.
5) Salary Question:
- Try to avoid discussing figures at the first interview; it can always be discussed later on. You don’t want to undersell yourself or create the wrong impression early on by overselling. This is normally best left to your recruitment consultant to deal with, allowing you to remain out of the loop altogether. If you’re pushed, stating you’re looking for no less than your market worth is sufficient.
6) Close:
- It’s crucial to close the interview on a positive note thus leaving a strong lasting impression. Do not be afraid to relay your interest & enthusiasm for the role to the interviewer, in fact we strongly recommend it.
7) The Final Word:
Please remember to be yourself; interviewers can always sense candidates who are not genuine. Enjoy the interview don’t endure it!