Interview techniques out of date? Read this now!
When was the last time you had an interview? You could have gone months without any success from your applications and this could be your first one in a long time. Or perhaps you’ve been in your current role for several years and your interview techniques are a little rusty. Feeling nervous before an interview is perfectly normal but preparing and polishing your interview techniques well before the big day will certainly help your chances of success.
Whether you’re looking for hospital jobs, a job at a local call centre or somewhere else, read on for some handy interview techniques that will make you stand apart from your competitors.
Research
One of the easiest things you can do before your interview is to take the time to do a little research. This means looking up information about the company you’re applying to work for. Head to their Facebook Business pages, their LinkedIn profile and of course their company website to find out more about their core values as a company, who is actually in charge and what their goals as a company are. If you know plenty about the company, you’ll be able to give back intelligent answers to the questions they’re going to have. It’ll certainly make you memorable.
Focus
Yes, you might have lots of other responsibilities going on. But when it comes to interview day, you’re going to need to be totally focused on the job in hand. Make sure you sort and gather everything you’re going to need on the day – a copy of your CV, notepad, pens and pencils, etc – the night before and leave nothing until the last moment. The same goes for your interview outfit. Get it ironed and laid out the night before. It’s one less thing to worry about.
Be on time
It goes without saying, you need to be at your interview on time. Ten minutes early is usually the recommended time. If you’re driving yourself, make sure you have fuel in the car – there could be a delay at the petrol station. If you’re travelling by public transport, keep an eye on timetables and look at the possibility of catching an earlier train or bus just in case.
Getting there early, allows you to find the building and the department you need to be in. It allows you to get your bearings, catch your breath and gather your thoughts. You might have the chance to go through your notes again too.
Take notes
You might be taking everything in during the interview and it’s probably going really well. But to really boost your chances, experts recommend taking in a notepad and pen with you and taking notes. This shows that you’re really interested in what’s being said – you can also make it easier to relay stuff back to them too for when you ask questions later. It’s the perfect interview technique for those hoping to come across as conscientious and professional.
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