Interviews can be tricky, if you are not prepared. As a two-way meeting between the candidate and the employer, it is an opportunity for the employer to find out about you and what you can bring to their organisation, and an opportunity for you to find out about the role, its challenges and what the hiring company is all about. Being fully prepared for an interview is the only way you can really stand a chance of success. As a legal recruitment agency, it is our job to help steer our applicants in the right direction through the pathway of interview preparation. So, for this purpose, we have created a few interview tips to help even the most nervous of jobseekers. Read on so you will be 100% ready for your next interview.
Attitude is Everything
Candidates are often too nervous or fret with emotion to enter the right mindset before an interview. Anxiety can affect over half of all candidates, thereby affecting their ability to demonstrate their competencies for the role. While interviews take place to showcase skills and qualifications, they are also there to allow the employer and candidate an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation.
Tip: We advise our jobseekers to do plenty of research in advance and practice controlled breathing methods to help relax and clear the mind. By approaching the interview in a calm manner, there is a better opportunity for success.
Do Your Homework
In the lead up to the interview, do as much research as possible about the hiring company. Start by looking at their website and identifying the services, or products, they offer. General research including office locations, number of staff, and the like are all good pieces of information to know. You could even take this one step further and phone the company asking them to mail you out an annual report so you can really do your homework in advance of the big day.
Prepare Yourself
As stated above, we always remind applicants to consider the interview as a conversation, so it is important to think about your skills, qualifications and experience in advance so you can confidently discuss what is highlighted on your CV. Always talk about the skills that are relevant and valuable to the position you are applying for.
In addition, we suggest preparing a list of questions in advance. Nobody enjoys a one-sided dialog, and it doesn’t do much to reveal anything of an applicant’s skills. It is advised to come up with at least three thought-provoking questions which demonstrate your interest and eagerness to learn more about the potential employer.
Honesty is the Best Policy
It is important to always be honest and answer every question publicly. If you are asked by the interviewer what your weaknesses are, then explain them, but always try to ensure there is a positive spin on your answer. It may seem obvious, but when a candidate is nervous they often are a bit loose with the truth and can misrepresent themselves.
Tip: Employers use interviews as a means of weeding out any false answers previously provided by the candidate, as well as determine any exaggerations.
When the interview concludes, always be sure to ask the interviewer what the next steps will be, including who will contact you if you have been successful, and by when. You can even ask if there will be a second-round interview and who that will be conducted by. This, combined with the previous tips, demonstrate your interest in the role and helps to leave a positive first impression, which always goes a long way.