Top tips for inspirational interviews

Performing well at an interview is a skill that can be learnt, so here are some suggestions for success next time you’re face to face with a recruiter.

• Match your skills to the job specification Interviews often start with an open question such as, “Tell me about yourself”. Many candidates fall into the trap of describing their life story. Don’t go down this route – simply start with your current role and explain why you have the necessary skills and experience for the job.

• Do your homework Spend time researching the company. Its website, press releases and social channels will give you a good insight into its goals and objectives, generating material that you can use for asking intelligent questions and which you can also tie into your answers.

• Research the industry Demonstrating you know what’s going on in a particular industry will come across well at interviews. Ask questions about industry trends, how the company plans to respond and link your experiences to them.

• Prepare examples Employers always want concrete examples to demonstrate your skills and experience. Have at least two such examples prepared for each skill set specified in the job advert and make sure your answers focus on the actions you took and the results you achieved.

• Decide what you’ll wear It sounds so simple but you don’t want to waste vital preparation time choosing your outfit, so plan what to wear well in advance.

• Plan your route Nothing looks worse than an interviewee who arrives late or gets lost. Plan your route ahead of time and leave plenty of buffer room in case of delays. Ideally, aim to arrive 15 minutes early.

• If in doubt, ask for clarification If you’re unsure what the interviewer really wants to know, don’t be afraid to ask them to elucidate their question. Not only does this stop you from wasting their time, it demonstrates your confidence.

• And finally, remember it’s a dialogue It’s easy to get nervous before interviews, but remember they want to find the right candidate as much as you want the right job, so keep calm and be as natural as possible.

This article was contributed by Secs in the City; to find out more about its recruitment services visit secsinthecity.co.uk