This pandemic has one way or another affected us all in different ways and I feel hugely for all of the really good people that have found themselves in the position where they are seeking new employment. I thought I would write this just in case it gives anyone going through this some ideas when approaching a company for a position, sometimes it’s the little things that make the big difference.
I have been lucky to have learned a few very simple but effective ways of helping get ahead of the pack during the interview process, I hope it helps:
- Research the company you are interviewing for, my opening question to all candidates when I have been the hiring manager in the past is “tell me what you know about us”, amazingly not all were able to offer a reasonably comprehensive answer to this question, and it shouldn’t be difficult. Their website should tell you the basics of what you need to know.
- Research the person that is interviewing you, 30 minutes with google or LinkedIn will give you lots of valuable, publicly available insight into the person on the other side of the table. Check out their LinkedIn profile, where have they worked before, do you have any common connections, if so why? What groups are they part of etc etc. This research may give the opportunity to connect on a personal level quickly if you have a common interest or shared connection or experience, they will also potentially see you have checked out their profile as well, meaning they have seen you care enough to have done some research and have put some effort in beforehand.
- Prepare questions, has the company grown / shrunk? How is Covid-19 affecting them? Have they just opened a new business or division – ask what was the driver, how is it going? Why is the role available etc etc. what articles have they published, Its good to show the hiring company that you have a genuine interest in the business and that its not just a job.
- Have 5 or 6 pre prepared examples of positive experiences in your mind that you can use when asked questions about your experience or behavioral tendencies, generally so long as there is a variety, you will be able to tailor them to give a relevant positive answer to most questions such as “tell me about a time when you . . . . . . . . . .”. When answering these questions take a few seconds before you reply to structure the best answer in your mind.
- Don’t be late, just don’t. Being early (and I’m talking 5-10 mins max) is being on time, being on time is being late and being late is just unacceptable. Get close to where you are having the interview and park up, get there 30 mins early, use the time to go through your questions and the 5 or 6 examples you have in your mind. It will also make sure that when you then pull into the car park 5 minutes before your interview, you are relaxed and confident – there is nothing worse that screaming into the car park 3 minutes late with a pulse of 160, sweating and babbling because you got caught in traffic.
- If you have to deliver a presentation, deliver it to yourself at least 10 times in front of a mirror, make sure it’s the right length timewise, learn the transitions, know the content you are talking around, don’t just read it from a slide, learn the ad libs that only come when you know a presentation inside about and are confident with it.
- Lastly, be polite and be yourself – you cant pretend to be someone you are not for very long once in the job.
These are just simple things I have used personally to get myself ahead of the crowd in interviews, I hope they give you some ideas and help in some way.
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