Best intreview tip

[TravellingSpoon]

Have a big interview coming up in a few days, for a job I really, really want. I have never had a really formal, panel interview before.

So if you had one tip to help me nail it, what would it be?

Ask them what they most need right now from someone in the role and then subtly show how you can deliver that. Answer in terms of what you can offer them, how you can help them and problem solve for them etc rather than what's in it for you.

Be honest. Don’t try to pretend you know stuff that you don’t. Be honest about what you’re good at and what you know, but also think ahead of the interview about where any gaps or challenges would be for you, and be ready to talk about that. Otherwise, the advice on ‘don’t be a twat’ is pretty sound. And send a brief thank you email afterwards - don’t go OTT but something thanking them for their time, and how the conversation has reinforced how interesting the role would be to you, or something along those lines.

I like people who smile and are personable.
Who seem like they genuinely are interested in the job.
Keep your responses shortish and relevant.
People who ramble on make me zone out.

Practise with anyone and everyone you can!

And yes research the company, look at recent news, look at their website. I’m amazed how many people don’t do this.

Good Q for the end - What do you expect would be the most important things to deliver in the first six months? You can also ask about team culture. Don’t ask about hours at a first interview.

Make sure you say ‘I did…..’ rather than ‘we did’
Follow up your examples with what you learned and how you’ve used this in your more recent projects/career etc
Good luck!

I was once given really good advice. When they ask if you have any questions at the end of the interview: ask what their reservations in hiring you would be. It’s a very direct question but gives you a chance to address any lingering doubts they might have about you being a good fit.

And yes prepare but don’t over-rehearse or you’ll come across as wooden!

All of the above but also...

Be you in the interview. Not the you that you think that they want to see.

You already have what they are looking for. They know that from your cv/application. This interview is to test your knowledge as much as it is to see how you will fit into the team.

You may be the right person for the job or you may not be. Equally, this interview is a 2 way street. Ask yourself if the people who are interviewing you seem like people you want to work for. Ask them about the culture of the organisation and why the last person left the post. It will tell you a lot.

Well not my advice. But my first boss out of Uni (who I'll always remember) told me he only hired me because I wore a bright orange outfit and so I was the only one he could remember. All the others wore black or grey and sort of merged in to one for him. He couldn't distinguish between who'd said what afterwards.

Shit interviewer, clearly. But I've never worn a black outfit to an interview, to this day.

Yes, bright top or a bright bunch of flowers on the bookshelf behind you. Give them a reason to remember you.
Also, with a Zoom interview, you can write reminder post its and stick them to the side of or behind the screen. And they will never know!
Research the company/ organisation in the news on the morning of the interview.

@Cactuslockdown

Make sure you say ‘I did…..’ rather than ‘we did’ Follow up your examples with what you learned and how you’ve used this in your more recent projects/career etc Good luck!

Disagree - we did demonstrates your acknowledgment of team working - I achieve nothing without everyone else’s input.

I always feel more comfortable when I've hidden the self view on Zoom (right click on your picture before you turn your camera on and hide self view). Means I'm more likely to look at the screen because I'm not put off by my own face!

I was interviewing recently and the interviewee asked what - based on her cv and interview - would stop us from offering her the job. Ballsy, but fab question. We were able to he honest about our reservations and that gave he rather opportunity to answer us.

@BrilliantBetty

Well not my advice. But my first boss out of Uni (who I'll always remember) told me he only hired me because I wore a bright orange outfit and so I was the only one he could remember. All the others wore black or grey and sort of merged in to one for him. He couldn't distinguish between who'd said what afterwards.

Shit interviewer, clearly. But I've never worn a black outfit to an interview, to this day.

That’s a shocking story.

@VladmirsPoutine

I really hate the "Why do you want to work for us" question. Everyone knows it's bullshit. We all have bills to pay.

I would work my current job even if I won millions on the lottery but that's not really the point. Mine is one of thousands of jobs out there, they'll all pay you, I want to know why you want mine (and so far I can tell if you don't and the job goes to someone who does)

If there’s an opportunity to let some of your personality show, take it - especially during introductions. I don’t mean ramble on about yourself but just try to give more than yes or no responses

I had an interviewer apologise for the timing (end of day on a Friday). I said don’t worry, I’ve just had a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit so I’m ready. She confessed to having wolfed down a chocolate bar 30 seconds before the call and we had a good laugh about it

It’s not going to land you the job but sometimes it can make people warm to you, which then makes for a more relaxed and positive conversation.

@VladmirsPoutine

I really hate the "Why do you want to work for us" question. Everyone knows it's bullshit. We all have bills to pay.

The question is not - why do you work? It’s more assuming you have the opportunity to work for anyone, why us? Even ds when asked at a retail interview had an answer - he likes fashion, he likes working with people, helping people, likes the brand, their ethos, supported their environmental policy. He really wanted the job - so he put a lot of effort into thinking about answers to question and familiarising himself with the company - a bit of prep and enthusiasm goes a long way to suggesting a good attitude.

Practice with zoom! Get the position of your laptop right so your head is in the right bit of the screen. Get the lighting right. There are some videos on YouTube you can watch to help.

Be groomed. Hold yourself well.

Be calm! Take a second to think before you blurt out an answer. Be friendly. Try and seem relaxed but alert.

And, be yourself, because if you're not it's going to be too much hard work!

@VladmirsPoutine

Keep your answers relevant and succinct using a form of the STAR method. Don't waffle or go off on tangents.

Body language is important don't slouch, sit up.

This. STAR. if you don’t know about it look it up then prepare. A lot. Have a bank of STARs that you can draw from for a variety of different questions. Focus on keeping the S and T bit brief, explain the A in suffice to detail but talk in first person only: what I did not we. Then explicitly identify the Rs- what benefit did it have to the employer, to your development, to financial bottom line, to your personal development etc. Practice and practice talking through all your STARs till it becomes 2nd nature. Then when they ask a question take a pause to select the best STAR example you have or even ask if you can come back to that question in a bit to give you time to digest it subconsciously while you answer a couple of others.

@DanFmDorking

What is the STAR method / technique?

It stands for: Situation Task Action Result

So what the issue/concern was, the task to resolve the issues, what YOU did (not the team, this is all about you) and finally what the outcome was.

Post it now,
The point is to say I not we as otherwise interviewers cannot discern what part you played. Team work is, as you say, critical- but you need to say what part you played in that team, how you interacted , how you overcame any team obstacles, how your strengths played into that team. It has to be explicit. Don’t make the interviewer have to figure out your part in that team achievement- they don’t have time or insight

Sorry, I’ll also add with STARs…
Don’t be afraid to use examples that aren’t work related…sometimes you learn great communication skills or conflict resolution skills, for example, with raising kids, being involved in hobbies etc. It is all valid as examples of how you behave and react to situations. Sometimes daft questions like “what’s the biggest risk you took” are better answered through non work examples.

@Dartfordwarblerautumn

Post it now, The point is to say I not we as otherwise interviewers cannot discern what part you played. Team work is, as you say, critical- but you need to say what part you played in that team, how you interacted , how you overcame any team obstacles, how your strengths played into that team. It has to be explicit. Don’t make the interviewer have to figure out your part in that team achievement- they don’t have time or insight

Sure but a metric is to count how many times someone mention I rather we when talking about team work - if you say I a lot you sound like someone who does not collaborate, you sound like an island in a team. Note - just my opinion, not fact, I don't expect you to agree.

Thank you all for your tips which are fabulous. I am really nervous but I want to move up to the next rung of the ladder. Its a promotion to a different team within the same LA ( I work for an LA in ASCH).

@lachy - Thank you