The Art of Interviewing
Passing a job interview can be nerve-racking. But is there an art to successfully answering interview questions to help secure your next big job? If you struggle with your interview technique, this blog post is for you.
Why job interviews are so hard
We all know how frustrating it feels to receive rejection after an interview. What’s worse is receiving a job interview rejection when you’re unsure why you didn’t get the job. You thought you performed well, so what got lost in translation during your interview?
Job interviews are hard because it’s hard to know how to prepare and answer interview questions correctly. Let alone how to bring your A-game and secure the job. If this sounds familiar, read on; there is light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve put together my five best interviewing practices for 2022 to secure your next big job. These tips have helped me secure every position I wanted, and I’ve also included two specific tips if well applied, may help you land your dream job.
5 Interview Practices You Need to Secure Your Next Big Job
I have interviewed and conducted mock job interviews with many people as a Job Coach and while working as a Project Coordinator for a national charity, responsible for recruiting staff. I have an insight into what recruiters and hiring managers are looking for and the most significant reasons candidates are not successful. I have compiled this list of the five best interviewing practices you need to know. And what you need to do to secure your next big job.
Interview Practice 1: Understand Interview Questions
A common request I get asked a lot is, “help me understand interview questions.” Or “how do I answer each type of question”? And what’s the difference between the interview types”?
Employers today can select from several interview types; it is essential to know which kind of interview you will have. Each interview type has its own set of rules, structure in answering questions and methods of preparation. Therefore knowing which type of interview you will have will help you prepare for that specific interview type. The three most common interview types are Competency-based, Behavioural and Strengths-based.
There are different interview questions, but the aim is the same regardless of this. You need to understand what the question is asking, i.e. what your interviewer is interested in knowing and why are they asking this question? Therefore, you carefully structure your answers to achieve maximum points by giving your interviewer what they are asking for.
It will make more sense with some guidance and practice, and you will understand how to position your answers correctly. Book a mock interview session with me to find out more.
Interview Practice 2: The Interview is not About You
It may sound counterintuitive, but the interview is not about you. The job opportunity and the organisation’s needs are the focus of the job interview.
The key to securing your next big job is demonstrating how you will deliver on the needs of this role?”. During the interview, focus on your essential skills, work history and experience as they relate to the position. Highlighting how you will deliver/help your employer meet their goals.
As a candidate, your prospective employer has to be fair during the interview process and treat all candidates the same. Therefore your prospective employer has not invested in you yet. At this stage, they do not care about what you like to do in your spare time etc. unless this is an actual interview question.
As a candidate, your prospective employer has to be fair during the interview process and treat all candidates the same. Therefore your prospective employer has not invested in you yet. At this stage, they do not care about what you like to do in your spare time etc. unless this is an actual interview question.
Instead, your prospective employer is thinking about the “return on their investment”. Let your employer know what you intend to do in this role and how you intend to help your employer succeed and meet their business goals, etc. Let your employer know that this is what you are passionate about and interested in. Do not make the mistake of just talking about yourself. Everything you say during your interview has to be related to the role’s needs.
Interview Practice 3: Focus on Value
In the same way that you should focus on the role’s needs, you need to ensure that you are highlighting the value you bring as a candidate. Your prospective employer is operating a business and will have key business goals in mind, which means your employer will have their ears tuned in to outcomes.
You can steer an interview in your direction by talking about what outcomes your prospective employer can expect to achieve if they hire you. In other words, the value you bring as an employee. Talk through the value you would bring to the role by leveraging your work history and past accomplishments. Focus on what most interests the interviewer by including how you will add value to the company and deliver on this role.
Interview Practice 4: Don’t Make Assumptions
Let me let you in on a bit of a secret. Interviewing managers do not always have time to read through everything on a candidate’s CV/Resume, Cover Letter, and application form. Once candidates are shortlisted, I know I have skimmed through application forms and supporting documents. I did intend to read through them carefully. But because there are so many to read and never enough time, I usually skim. And after reading five application forms back to back, everything is a blur.
Here’s a tip, start by focusing on making your CV/Resume and Cover Letters and application forms stand out. If you want some guidance on what to include in your CV/Resume download our free guide.
Even when I have read through application forms, it’s easy to confuse what each candidate has done or said. Therefore, when at an interview, do not assume the interviewer has read and memorised every detail of your application. Instead, bring copies of your CV/Resume, etc., to hand out. And during the interview, make sure to highlight your key achievements and your competencies, career history, or any other significant information related to the role’s needs.
Remember that your interviewer will record what you say during your interview and score you based on what you say. So please don’t assume they remember your key achievements. Instead, make sure to tell them.
Interview Practice 4: Don’t Make Assumptions
Let me let you in on a bit of a secret. Interviewing managers do not always have time to read through everything on a candidate’s CV/Resume, Cover Letter, and application form. Once candidates are shortlisted, I know I have skimmed through application forms and supporting documents. I did intend to read through them carefully. But because there are so many to read and never enough time, I usually skim. And after reading five application forms back to back, everything is a blur.
Here’s a tip, start by focusing on making your CV/Resume and Cover Letters and application forms stand out. If you want some guidance on what to include in your CV/Resume download our free guide.
Even when I have read through application forms, it’s easy to confuse what each candidate has done or said. Therefore, when at an interview, do not assume the interviewer has read and memorised every detail of your application. Instead, bring copies of your CV/Resume, etc., to hand out. And during the interview, make sure to highlight your key achievements and your competencies, career history, or any other significant information related to the role’s needs.
Remember that your interviewer will record what you say during your interview and score you based on what you say. So please don’t assume they remember your key achievements. Instead, make sure to tell them.
I would take this one step further and find out who will be on your interview panel. Or who will conduct your interview and find out specifics about those individuals. I would be interested in knowing the positive changes they have brought to the organisation, their achievements etc. During the interview, you can leverage this information to demonstrate a culture fit as people tend to draw closer to other people similar to them. You should see your interview as an excellent opportunity to build connections now and for possible future opportunities
What’s the Purpose of a Job Interview?
The purpose of a job interview is to have a conversation between an employer and a candidate. Your job as a candidate is to demonstrate you have the skills necessary to deliver on the role’s needs. You want to communicate that you understand the organisation and can help them achieve its goals. Our five interviewing practices for 2022 should help you to do just this.
If you would like to receive help to improve your interviewing techniques, why not book a session with me. I would love to help you secure your next big job.
Interview Practices that Have Always Landed Me the Job
Whenever I have practised the following two tips in a job interview, I have always landed the job without fail. The following two tips are crucial.
- When you research the company, find out its values, mission, culture, and strengths. But also look at where their weaknesses are and where there is growth potential. You want to use this information to highlight that you understand their unique needs. But importantly, you want to demonstrate your unique positioning and how you can add value.
- You must see yourself already in the role and answer questions from that perspective. Doing this elevates the quality of your answers and performance.
Even More Interview Tips
As I previously mentioned, there are a ton of things you can do to help you prepare for an upcoming interview. Below are some additional key things to do and think about when preparing for your interview.
- Go over the job description and person specification a few times, highlighting the key requirements of the role. Note what the role/organisation is asking for and practice answering interview questions based on this information.
- As you highlight the key requirements, think through examples of how you have demonstrated the key role requirements from your current and previous experience.
- Have a range of examples that demonstrate your passion, skills, experience and energy.
- When preparing examples, choose the best examples for each type of question.
- Look at your prospective employer’s website, social media and publications either printed or online. Pay attention to language and key terms used, as you will want to mirror this language when answering interview questions.
- Make sure you prepare answers well in advance and, if possible, practice the delivery of these answers out loud and in front of a mirror.
These Next Two Tips Have Always Landed Me the Job
Whenever I have intentionally and effectively practised these next two tips in a job interview, I have always landed the job. Without fail. These next two tips are crucial.
- When you research the company, find out what their values, mission, culture and strengths are. But also look at where their weaknesses are and where there is potential for growth. This is important because you want to use this information to highlight that you understand their unique needs. But most importantly you want to demonstrate your unique positioning and how you can add value.
- See yourself already in the role and answer questions from that perspective.
We Recommend
Why You? 101 Interview Questions you’ll Never Fear Again
Practising answering interview questions is essential when preparing for interviews.
Click to learn more on Amazon.
Pro-Tip
I would take this one step further and find out who will be on your interview panel. Or who will conduct your interview and find out specifics about those individuals. I would be interested in knowing positive changes they have brought to the organisation, their achievements etc. This is information that can be leveraged during the interview to demonstrate a culture fit. As people, we tend to draw closer to other people who are most similar to us. You should see your interview as a great opportunity to build connections for now and or possible future opportunities.
Ace Your Interview
Did any of these tips resonate with you? And would like to receive help to improve your interviewing techniques? Then check out the information on our coaching tab. Or better yet, book yourself into an interviewing coaching session with me. I would love to help you secure your next big job.
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What did you think of our top tips and which tip do you need to work on? Or pass along to a friend who has been struggling with their interview technique. If you found this blog post helpful make sure to check out some more of our blog posts.
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We Recommend: Why You? 101 Interview Questions you’ll Never Fear Again
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