Congratulations!!
Your CV and cover letter have caught the eye of an employer, and they’d like to learn more about you. Interviews can be very stressful for some people, but for others it’s a breeze. Here at Zoop we thought we’d take some time to go through some tips with you to help you when you walk through that door/ answer that phone call.
1: Research the company!!!
This one is a given, but you may be surprised to see how many people fail this simple step. If you’re looking to work at a company, it helps to know more about who they are and what they are offering.
Another bit of advice that we can give is to have some questions ready to ask yourself. You will be given the opportunity to ask some towards the end of the interview, and having those questions shows someone that you’ve paid attention to the company beforehand and the interview. However, don’t go overboard with the questions, we suggest 2 or 3 max.
2: Be honest- but maybe not too blunt!
Honesty is an incredibly valuable quality, though it can work against you. For example, if you are asked why you want to work at this business, don’t say ‘to pay the bills’ We all know that we have bills to pay, and it also shows a lack of interest in the role. No amount of experience can replace passion, and you are very unlikely to be given an opportunity if you don’t show desire.
However, lying won’t get you anywhere. If you get caught out, you may as well kiss that opportunity goodbye.
3: First impressions, they are important!
If you want a job, you must turn up to the interview on time. One of our employees came across a saying several years back that really stuck to him, and it goes like this. ‘To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, and to be late is unheard of.’ With this in mind, we recommend that you aim to arrive about 15 minutes before, as this will allow you some time if there are any problems with traffic.
Attire is also crucial here, as even the most casual of businesses will appreciate someone who turns up to the interview well-dressed over someone who just looks scruffy. And we advise you also speak candidly and with correct grammar, as an employer is less likely to pick you if he can’t understand you.
4: Use the STAR Interview technique!
Our office Manager Joe suggests that when being interviewed, remember the STAR technique. Situation, Task, Action, Result. This will help you when giving examples of your past experiences and will leave a good impression when done correctly with your potential employer. Remember that you can use cases from home or volunteering work as well, but make it short and sweet when giving these examples.
5: Leave on a positive note.
When exiting the interview, you should always leave the same way you entered. With a handshake and a smile. Do bear in mind that you will rarely be offered the job at this stage, and some employers like to have second and even third interviews with their candidates.
With these tricks in mind, we’re sure that you’ll ace your next interview!
GOOD LUCK!