A lot can go into a successful interview, and your attitude both during and before the interview is important. In order to succeed in your interview you will need to ensure that you have thoroughly prepared.
Proper preparation can instill confidence in your skills and experience as well as your knowledge regarding the job role and company you are interviewing for. As a result, this article will explore various ways in which you can succeed in your job interview.
1. Do plenty of research on the company
During your research, you should look into the company’s website, as this will give you insight into the company’s mission statement and values, allowing you to see if they align with your own. Reading industry news can also give you information about the company’s current projects and potential financial stability.
LinkedIn is also a great way to identify potential career progression opportunities and employee sentiment by seeing how long they have worked for the company and how their job role or title may have progressed.
2. Prepare for various types of interview questions
Interviewers usually ask a variety of questions, based on behaviours and competencies.
Behavioural questions tend to be based around how you handled certain situations in previous roles. This allows employers to see how you would approach potential challenges and whether you would see them as opportunities rather than disadvantages.
Competency based questions are used to find out how you’ve used specific skills in certain situations. This will give employers an idea of how you approach problems, tasks and challenges.
Examples of behavioural questions include:
- How do you approach problems?
- Tell me about a time when you showed leadership skills.
- Are you better at working in a team or on your own?
- Tell me about a time when you failed.
- Tell me about a time when you worked well under pressure.
To prepare for these types of questions, you could write a list of your strengths and weaknesses and how they’ve previously been applied to situations.
You can also prepare answers to commonly asked interview questions, such as:
- Could you tell me a bit more about yourself?
- How did you find out about this role?
- Why should we hire you?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- How do you handle pressure at work?
When you prepare for various interview questions ahead of time, it can give you greater confidence and reduce the chances of the interviewer catching you off guard with difficult questions.
3. Prepare for multiple types of interviews
It’s fairly common for companies to hold interviews that have multiple stages. These stages tend to come in different formats, such as:
Off-site interviews
Off-site interviews may include meeting an employer for a coffee, lunch or dinner in a neutral location away from the company. You should always aim to turn up at the interview before the interviewer. You could also look at the menu before you arrive, as well as researching the venue to see if there’s a dress code, whether there is parking and any other bits of information that can help you feel as comfortable as possible during the interview.
Video and phone interviews
If you’re undertaking a video or phone interview, you should focus on your environment. You want to be in a quiet room, where you’ll be free from interruptions and distractions. You also want to make sure you have appropriate lighting so that the employer can see you properly.
Wifi and service is also extremely important when it comes to video and phone interviews, as you want to make sure your wifi is strong enough to hold a good connection. If you find you're having problems with your wifi on the day you could switch to using your mobile phone data/4G to help boost your signal and keep the interviewer informed if you do run into any struggles with this
Group interviews
Group interviews tend to involve multiple candidates answering interview questions or completing tasks together, so that interviewers can see how strong your listening, communication, and team working skills are.
Group interview tasks could include:
- Group presentations.
- Role playing activities.
- Discussing case studies.
4. Prepare questions to ask your employer
At the end of most interviews, interviewers will ask if you have any questions. It’s crucial that you ask employers questions back, as this shows that you have taken the time to prepare before your interview.
Asking questions also gives you the opportunity to understand more about the company you’re applying to. You can ask questions like:
- When will I hear back from you?
- If I was offered the job, what could I do to prepare?
- What opportunities for growth, progression and training do you offer?
For further guidance on unique questions you can ask interviewers, read our article.
5. Act professionally
It’s extremely important to act professionally to ensure you make a great impression in your interview. You should also ensure that you dress appropriately based on the type of interview you are attending and where it’s taking place. Things you can wear to an interview include:
- A tailored suit.
- Tailored trousers.
- A well-fitting T-shirt.
- A well-fitting shirt.
- A dress, recommended knee length or below.
- A skirt recommended knee length or below.
- Ballet pumps.
- Loafers.
- Closed-toe shoes, including court shoes.
During an interview, you shouldn’t:
- Turn up late.
- Mumble or speak too quickly.
- Speak negatively about previous employers.
- Swear.
6. Bring relevant documents to your interview
Usually, employers will ask you to bring certain documents into your interview, like your national insurance number and passport. You can also consider taking in the following items, even if they don’t ask for them:
- A printed version of your CV.
- Your portfolio.
- A written list of questions you would like to ask the interviewer.
- A notebook and pen.
7. Be you!
Being yourself in an interview is a great way to put your best foot forward, as it helps the employer see the real you. This will also help you remain positive and confident throughout the interview, knowing that you were true to yourself and did everything you could to succeed in your interview.
8. Follow up after the interview
It can be beneficial to follow up with your interviewer after an interview, as it shows that you're keen about the role, and it gives you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have forgotten to ask during your interview. For guidance on how to address people in an email, read our article.
FAQs
How to succeed in an online interview?
Succeeding in an online interview is very similar to in-person interviews - it’s all about preparation. Examples of what to do when interviewing online include:
- Test your technology beforehand - Check that your internet is stable and that your camera and microphone work.
- Carefully choose your location - The best locations are quiet, with a tidy, non-distracting background.
- Dress professionally - Even though in an online interview, the interviewer will only see the top half of your body, it’s still important to dress professionally. It’s recommended that you still wear professional clothes on your lower half, as this will get you in a more professional mindset.
- Keep a notebook on your desk - This allows you to make any notes during your interview.
What are the signs of a successful interview?
There are a number of signs of a successful interview, such as:
- The conversation kept flowing - When the interview feels more like a friendly conversation and lacks awkward silences, this tends to be a sign of a successful interview.
- The interview lasted longer than expected - When an interview lasted longer than expected it usually means that they are genuinely interested in your conversation, rather than just going through the motions.
- You’re introduced to other team members - This usually occurs to see how you interact with various members of the team and to see what their thoughts of you are. This can be a sign that they’re considering you as a serious candidate.
