You received a call to attend an interview for a job you applied for, what should you do next?
So once you manage to get past the gatekeepers and have the opportunity to land that job you’ve been looking for, what can you do to ensure you nail your interview? John Winter, General Manager of Robert Walters Taiwan explains how you could prepare to pass the interview process successfully.
“Interviewers frequently test a candidate’s preparation to see how enthusiastic they are about the role and the company. For a fairly straightforward interview you should allow half a day’s preparation time, but for more senior roles which will require you to go deeper, it’s best to allocate a full day,” John said.
Below are some tips from John:
Go the extra mile with your research
The first thing to do is to visit company’s website and social channels. Make sure you read the homepage, about us and services/products sections and note down the key points you learn about the company including its history, vision and mission.
Also, do web search of the company to find out if it’s been in the news lately. It is also a good idea to know who its competitors are and what differentiates them from other businesses in their field.
Map out how your skills and experience match the job description
Learn your CV by heart so you can talk naturally and fluently about your employment history and key achievements. Map our how your skills and experience match the job description, as you want to make it easy for the interviewer to see how you’re a great fit to the role.
Practice with a friend or your recruiter
Ask someone you trust to help you practice common interview questions and competency-based interview questions. Practising out loud will stop you from ‘rambling’ on the day and help you to communicate your thoughts clearly and succinctly.
The importance of preparation cannot be overstated. As well as boosting your confidence, it will help you to show the best you.
Prepare interesting questions to make yourself stand out
Try to think of questions that will make you stand out from the other interviewees. Interviewers tend to be impressed by candidates with an enthusiastic attitude and those who have gone the extra mile to prepare for the interview.
For examples, if you’ve looked at some of their employees’ LinkedIn profiles and seen that people tend to get promoted every two or three years, then ask about that!
Likewise, read the annual report and latest press releases to look for things where you can make a link to the role and department you are hoping to join.
For example, ask “I read that you’ve just launched X, what will that mean for the growth of this role?”
Be creative and remember to avoid questions about pay and benefits in the first interview. These topics can be discussed once you’ve been offered the job.
John concluded: “Many interviewees struggle to explain what the company does, perhaps because they’re attending several interviews in a row and haven’t made the time to do much research – if you don’t come across as having a firm grasp of the company, the interviewer can only conclude that you’re not really that bothered about the job!”
Start getting prepared by reading The Complete Interview Guide
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