To ask you to give me some interview tips!

[Mangoo]

I've just been offered an interview at a place I've wanted to work for so long! I've been trying to get one there for over a year now.

I am so nervous! I've done interviews before of course but this one is so important. It would improve my home life massively if I were to get this job.

Please givee me some of your tips or examples of what impresses you if you are an interviewer! It's client based, office type work so examples of questions that may be asked would be so helpful too!

I am due to start another job on Monday 2nd Nov but I really would prefer the one ive just been offered an interview for so should I tell them I'm starting elsewhere on the following Monday or does that look like I'm trying to pressure them?

May sound awful but I would definitely leave my new job for this one if they came back and offered after I'd already started.

Help me MN I'm so nervous!!

I imagine there will be competency based questions so make sure you have lots of examples ready. Read the job description thoroughly and have think of experiences you can use to evidence. Research the company well, I hate it when people come to an interview but have no idea what the company does. Smile a lot. Good luck.

mangowango thank you! I am going to do some proper research on the place tonight.

It's not the usual set up as in I've actually already been for an interview at their other office which is quite far from me. They told me they really liked me and would be in touch when a suitable role was available as they are restructuring. They have now responded asking me to get in touch with their other office (the one I'm desperate to work at) as they also have a position opening which they think I'd do well in too.

So I do feel better knowing they have already met me but of course it's a different manager at this office so want to impress them too!

It's the same job as I'm do now so I know the job spec.

What do you think about telling them re the new job?

Thanks!

1. Have some examples ready of things you've done so you can adapt them to competency questions. Think what skills each example show, eg teamwork, customer service etc.

1. If you get the "what's your biggest weakness" question, don't give the generic "I'm a workaholic", it tells them nothing. This is actually an opportunity to tell them something really good about yourself. Eg "I used to struggle with managing my workload, so I identified this and set about improving it. I did xyz and now I find that deadlines are much easier to manage, although it's something I'll always be mindful of" or "sales isn't something that comes naturally to me so I went on such and such a course". Preferably choose something that isn't integral to the role but something you've actively tried to improve. The question is about how self aware you are not how perfect you are.

1. Relax. Believe it or not, they want you to get the job. Getting interviewers together takes time and preparation, they don't do it for a candidate they don't want to hire. If you don't understand a question, ask them to rephrase. Pause, think about your answer and then respond.

Good luck!

Nomad86 right thank you so much! There some really helpful points.

I really like your point 3. I always view it as 'trying to catch you out' or similar when in reality of course they would like you to get the job, otherwise why would they be interviewing!

"Research the company well, I hate it when people come to an interview but have no idea what the company does."

This^^

I would rarely, if ever, hire someone who hadn't bothered to do this and I've even curtailed interviews because candidates demonstrated little or no knowledge about what the company does.

It's just so fundamental and, I'd think, obvious, but you'd be amazed how many otherwise bright people simply don't bother.

cjb57 thanks.

It's actually the exact same job I already do so I definitely know what it is they do as a business but do you think research on the personal company themselves i.e. when the were formed for example is beneficial?

Eye contact with interviewer(s) but not staring

Practice answering any possible questions you think may be asked in advance

Don't rush with your answers, take a few seconds, although at the time those few seconds feel like an eternity it's better than gabbling out the wrong thing

Be pleasant to the person who escorts you from reception to meeting room. I once escorted a man who resisted all attempts at my polite conversation and looked at me as if I was shit on his shoe. He subsequently looked a bit sick when he realised I was the interviewer

Meant to add, I wish you the very best of luck and if it's what you want, hope you get the job.

www.theguardian.com/careers/careers-blog/star-technique-competency-based-interview
Look at some examples ie customer service, problem solving etc....
Good luck

Don’t be afraid to take your time answering a question. It’s ok to pause for a few seconds and it’s even ok to tell them you need a few moments to think first.

When you’ve looked at the competencies and prepared your answers, make notes... just bullet points covering a single side of A4

Take it in and have it on your lap to refer to if you forget

An interview isn’t a memory test and as long as you’re not just reading off the paper or constantly having to refer to it, it won’t go against you

Also, if the company has published ‘values’, make sure your examples include where you’ve demonstrated those

Google the STAR interview technique, good luck

It's also OK to ask them to repeat or explain a question if you're not sure what they're asking.

And of course the obvious of smile and greet them when you come in. They'll all be introduced to you, so look and smile at each in turn, and don't worry about not remembering who they are - I don't see how anyone could possibly remember anything they're told at the tart of an interview.

Smart attire. Eye contact with the interviewer and a nice firm handshake if offered (I hate limp handshakes!) Look at the responsibilities to give yourself an idea of what questions will be asked. Be prepared for a competency based interview "give me an example of a time when you....". Give yourself a few moments to think about your answers to ensure you give a strong example. If you don't have experience of a particular thing, say "I haven't faced that exact scenario, but I think I would approach it like this...." Definitely research a bit about the company itself because you could get asked a question around why do you want to work there.

Good luck OP!

Thank you thank you!

Would it put any of you off if I said I had another job I was starting on Monday but would still prefer to join them if offered?

Hi @Mangoo

I don't agree with a pp's comments that you should have a piece of paper in your lap with notes. I interview a lot and I would wonder what you are looking at if you kept looking into your lap!!! I would suggest that you just learn a few key facts to relay.

My tips would be to be friendly and polite to everyone you meet, don't be disparaging about anyone, keep your answers clear and concise and demonstrate that you are keen and willing.

Re your last post (turning down a firm job offer if your preferred company were to offer one) - I would say if questioned, or at the end of the interview if not: "I need to be honest, I have been offered a role with X, but if you were to offer me the position I would much prefer to work here" which would go well I think, provided that you don't imply you already think that you would def be offered the job at your favourite.

Wishing you the best of luck-you must let us know how it goes!

*points not facts!

pompomcat thank you!

My plan was to say along those lines 'i have to be honest' kind of thing, certainly wouldn't be implying I thought I'd definitely get the job but I definitely don't want them to feel I'd hidden it if it came out if they did offer if that makes sense?

I interview a lot and I would wonder what you are looking at if you kept looking into your lap!!! I would suggest that you just learn a few key facts to relay

I interview a lot too, but I didn’t say ‘keep looking into your lap’.

When I interview, I want to get the right person for the job in terms of their skills and experience, not just how they perform under the high pressure interview scenario.

If someone, occasionally, refers briefly to notes in order to recall the best example that fits the question, it’s not an issue. Im comfortable that my follow up questions probe enough to confirm they’re not bullshitting.

Sure... if they over rely on those notes, it’s a bad sign. But I’ve never held it against an interviewee... and I’ve managed to get a number of senior roles myself following this technique. 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️

I never mind if someone refers to notes, or makes notes - all is fine as long as I think I'm getting the best side of them.

Please please remember to smile and if you would love to work there, be enthusiastic with your answers and attitude.

Sit forward in your chair, remember to address all the interviewers and make them believe that you were born to work there.

I like keen! Appear keen, interested and enthusiastic. Good Luck!!

Wear funky shoes if you can. Something noticeable.

I know it sounds silly. But it always works and I remember the teacher trainee staff saying it to us whilst we were trying to find teaching posts.

Wear funky shoes. It will make you memorable (teaching interviews at usually done with 5 or 6 other people in a day so you need to be noticed in a group) and easily identifiable.

Plus it always gave me a little confidence boost knowing my shoes rocked and expressed my personality.

Wear funky shoes if you can. Something noticeable.

I know it sounds silly. But it always works and I remember the teacher trainee staff saying it to us whilst we were trying to find teaching posts.

Wear funky shoes. It will make you memorable (teaching interviews at usually done with 5 or 6 other people in a day so you need to be noticed in a group) and easily identifiable.

Plus it always gave me a little confidence boost knowing my shoes rocked and expressed my personality.

Tell them NOTHING about the other job. No matter what you say, all they will hear is that you've made promises to a company that you're willing to break within a week.

PlinkPlink I'll have to be in my usual work gear unfortunately as I will be going straight from work!

Disquieted1 what about if they found out after the interview though and I'd said nothing?

It really is just unfortunate timing. I've been asking for over a year for an interview, sort of gave up and got a job elsewhere and now a week before my start date they've asked me in! Always the way.