7 Tips For Your Job Interviews

Firstly…..

Key Points:

1. Research the company

Before your interview spend some time researching the company you are interviewing for. This can sometimes be tricky as it can be easy to consume mass information at this point which may not be relevant. Instead try and make some mental and physical notes of what you find on the company website and any social media pages that they may have such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Doing so, will inform you of any recent or upcoming events that the company may be involved in, how present they are on social media as well as the tone and language of the brand.
Look at your potential employers competition, not only will this be a good conversation point in your interview and differentiate you from other candidates, it will also allow you to understand the market a lot better.

2. Practice potential questions

Now that you have a feel of the brand you can work on potential questions that may pop up. Go through the job description, the responsibilities and the skills required which can be found in the job advert or place you applied for the job. If you don’t have this on hand, you can always search for a similar job role on or web search key responsibilities for X role. Then use a printed or digital copy of your cv and pick out your own skills or achievements that are directly relevant to the job specification and rehearse those answers ahead of time. You can practice those questions and answers in front of a mirror, record yourself on your phone so you can watch it back, FaceTime a friend or even get a loved one to test you. This should prepare you enough for what may be asked at your interview.

3. Ask meaningful questions

There will come a point in any interview whether at the end or beginning that you may be asked if you have any questions. This can be used as a fantastic opportunity to really show off what you know about the company thus far and portray your interest and insights but also it should be asked meaningfully because your potential employer WILL see through all the ‘fluff’. For example, you may want to know more details on company culture and what makes them stand out from other companies or what their best seller is.

4. Check your body language

Research has shown time and time again that eye contact portrays a level of confidence, try and do this in your interview without making the other person uncomfortable. Keep your stance as neutral as possible, no crossing of the arms, no hands on your hips etc as these can be huge tell tell signs of defensive behaviour or simply nerves. Instead try focusing on smiling, not only will you appear more relaxed and comfortable studies have shown a smile to be more likeable too.

5. Plan your journey

Punctuality is key and showing up late can simple show a lack of organisation to your potential employer and create a bad impression even before you have even spoken. If you are driving to the interview, factor in potential traffic and also ask your future employer about parking. If you are travelling by public transport pick a simple/ familiar route if you can and ensure you have enough time from the station or bus stop to your desired location- ideally you want to arrive 10 mins early.

6. Look professional

Looking ‘the part’ is always important in making a good first impression, so make sure you are dressed appropriately. Sometimes it is better to be overdressed than under, so make sure you know what they might consider inappropriate attire. If you’re still unsure of what to wear ask for a second or third opinion from close family or friends. If all else fails, depending on the time you have before the interview purchase or borrow an item if nothing in your wardrobe is professional enough, you want to be as comfortable as you can too, so bare that in mind.

As well as dressing professionally, you too want your overall appearance to be smart too. Ensure good hygiene, brush your teeth avoid smelly foods prior to your interview, use mouthwash and pack some mints for the journey, avoiding gum. If you smoke, try and avoid doing so right before the interview as the smell can travel to your clothes and give a bad first impression.
As general good practice you want to also ensure your phone is turned off or on silent. It is very unlikely that you will need your phone during the interview so by turning it off you are eliminating any possible distractions.

7. Tech and Wi-Fi

Many companies have turned to online interviews via Teams or Zoom for the first screening anyway so ensure you have a strong Wi-Fi connection. Many companies have kept to virtual working or hybrid working so ensuing you have a relatively good Wi-Fi connection will be a positive. If you have never used Zoom or Teams ensure you have trialed a call and know how to basically navigate the app or website, try calling a friend. Lastly, ensure your laptop is fully charged as you don’t want your interview dropping for any of the above reasons.

After your interview, use your phones notes to write down your emotions after the interview, how you felt it went and if so why? If you have many interview lined up this can be a good place to keep a solid record of these details as well as any questions you feel you didn’t ask at the time.

We hope these tips enable you to give your best shot at any upcoming interview! Good luck, Diversify.