Mastering the Art of the job interview: A Guide to help job seekers succeed at interviews

Job interviews can be tough. Some people are naturally good at interviews, but others struggle to showcase their skills and talents. In this article, we'll take you through the key steps to helping you improve your interview skills, boost your confidence and turn those past failures into future successes. 

1. Do your homework about the organisation

Before going for an interview, learn as much as you can about the company, its products, services, vision, values etc. Knowing this will not only help you to answer questions at the interview, but will also show that you’re interested in joining the team and the organisation.

2. Do your homework about the job

Keep in mind the key duties of the job as this will be the focus of the interview and the questions you’ll be asked. Take another look at the job description, person spec, etc. to familiarise yourself with the key requirements of the role and the essential and desirable skills, experience and competencies that the job asks for.

3. Prepare examples of your experience and achievements

Be prepared to discuss how your skills, talents and experience align with what the employer is looking for. Having some ready-made examples of how your experience fits with the key aspects of the job, is vital for a successful interview and will also help you to feel calm and confident.  So review your CV and pull out some relevant examples you can talk about that will demonstrate to the interviewer your suitability for the role. Also, have a couple of additional examples that weren’t within your application submission just in case the interviewer is looking for even more evidence that you’re a fit for the position.

4. Be prepared for competency-based questions 

Many interviews now include competency-based questions, where you’ll be asked to give examples of how you’ve behaved in various situations. It could be to check your problem-solving abilities or how you’ve made difficult decisions. Or if it’s a leadership role, then you may be asked for examples of how you've managed, motivated and inspired your teams. Again looking at the job details will give you a clue as to the sorts of competencies that may come up.  Also, be prepared for questions such as: ‘Tell me about your strengths’ and ‘Why are you interested in this job’ which are often asked, and have your answers to these rehearsed and ready to go.

5. Practice, practice, practice

Okay, so you’re not going to know exactly what questions the interviewer will ask you, but if you take another look at the job details, you’ll get an idea about the general areas that are likely to be covered. Having done this, you should then practice how you would answer questions. If it helps, say out loud what your answer would be.  

You can also use a structure for answering questions - such as the STAR model: situation, task, action and result – which will help you to answer clearly and succinctly.  We say more about this in our article: ‘Tips and hints for answering any kind of interview question’.

Practising your answers beforehand will help you articulate yourself with confidence, ensuring you leave a lasting and positive impression on the interviewer. And if you want to take your preparation to the next level, consider a mock interview before the big day, which will help you hone your interview skills. 

6. Body language

We say so much about ourselves before we’ve even spoken. So be mindful of your body language. How you enter the interview room. Your response to the first question. And how you ask your own questions, all help to create either a positive or a negative impression. So remain positive, speak clearly and maintain good eye contact whether you’re in the room with the interviewer or facing them through a computer screen.

7. Feedback and learning

And if you don’t get the job, try to put it down to experience and learn from it. Ask for feedback and use this as a learning tool to improve upon those areas the interviewer thought you could improve.

CONCLUSION

Mastering the art of job interviews needs careful preparation, self-confidence and effective communication. But by following our tips you'll not only impress potential employers, but will also increase your chances of securing the job you've been working towards.

Wishing you lots of luck on your job interview journey.