Five Top Tips for interview preparation

I am often asked to provide interview preparation for clients. Not only is it great to hear when clients have been successful, but it is also a huge privilege when you support clients to do their best when applying for their next role.

Here are five top tips for interview preparation.

1. I often find that individuals have over ‘planned’ their interview. They have anticipated what they have asked; they worry they have missed specific points they wanted to include in the interview. It is really important you DO some preparation; planning general answers to questions, thinking of responses to tricky questions. However the key is to THEN be natural at the interview.
2. Do some research about the business you are going to. But not just the website, but mentions in the industry they are part of, any information about future plans and other people you might be connected to, who already work there.
3. In the same vein, research who is interviewing you. It might be you have connections in common; possibly you have worked together before (or at the same company). You might have some common interests. These all help with connecting and engaging with others.

4. If you don’t know where the interview is going to be, double check. There are plenty of types of interview, from online Skype/Zoom types, to very informal first interviews at a public place and very formal ones, with a board of interviewers. Ensure you know this so you are prepared mentally. Visualise yourself in the space and having a conversation with the interviewers in this environment. You won’t be thrown on the day if you have done this.

5. Now here comes the powerful stuff: when you are practicing your interview, I want you to ‘be in the moment’ and be present in the conversation. Instead of constantly worrying about how you are going to answer a specific question, or whether you have included all of the points you needed to, concentrate on BEING in the conversation, engaging the person you are speaking to. If you have ever been in a conversation with someone who isn’t quite present: they are distracted – well that is how you will come across if you are constantly ‘remembering’ what to say. Practice doing this, so you can become more confident. The fact is that if you have done your preparation, by being relaxed and in the moment, your brain will be able to access this information, so the content to any conversation will be  natural, and you will come across in a more confident, authentic way.

If you would like some assistance with your interview skills; creating a natural, confident, authentic persona. Call me on 0800 0938464 or contact me I work face to face and on Skype.