Start by doing some prep!
Most people fail to prepare for their job interview. As well as researching the company, you need to find out who is interviewing you and then learn about
them personally (from their LinkedIn or other profiles on the web). Then you
will be able to relate to them in the interview, mentioning things you have in
common to try and build an affinity with them. After all-people love people who
have similar interests!
Next, research the most common interview
questions and rehearse your answers to them. Chances are you'll be asked
questions like "so tell us about yourself" and "what are your
strengths and weaknesses" so you need to have your answers to these
questions well-rehearsed if you're going to win them over!
The kick-off
On the day, arrive 15 minutes early and sit in the reception area. Focus on nothing
but your breathing. Relax your entire body and ignore what's going on around
you.
When you're called into the room, start with a
strong hand shake. Look them in the eye and have your
body language front facing. Stand tall and look confident. Be very
careful what you say in the first 2 minutes as they are crucial. You'll be judged on your first impression so if you blab on
about the traffic, then they could come to the
wrong conclusion prematurely. So start out cautiously but positively, complimenting
them on their premise and your experience so far.
Let them drive
Don't jump
straight into conversation. Instead, let them organize themselves and get settled in first. Then let
them drive the meeting. If there is a pause or a break in conversation, don't
fill it. They are simply thinking about the answer to the last question or how
to kick off the next question. They need this “thinking time” if they are to come to the
right conclusion.
Answering questions
When you're asked a question, always stop for
2-3 seconds before answering. This gives you time to gather your
thoughts so you can answer well. Keep your answers short
and to the point. Quote examples and reference people who can back you
up. Give authority to your answers by quoting what you've done in the past
and what you’ve learned along the way. They need to know that not only can you "do the
job" but that "you've been there and done it before".
The big finale
You need a confident finish at the
end of the interview. So tell them how impressed you are with the company and how excited
you are about the role. Briefly summarize how you can add value to the role and
why you're the best candidate. Tell them you're really excited about it all and
that you already have ideas for how you’ll achieve the targets set.
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