Interviews vary enormously.  Whilst most people’s conception of an interview is a classic one-on-one interview – and that is what most candidates may well be expecting – there are a multitude of possible scenarios:

• Classic one-on-one interviews
• Panel interviews
• Competency-based interviews
• Psychometric and aptitude tests
• Presentations
• Group interviews
• Assessment centres
• Distance interviews

The interview may be a quick, informal chat across a crowded office or it could involve a panel of interviewers all firing questions at you.  You may be asked to sit an aptitude test or prove that you have the necessary skills for the job – a typing test for example.  There may even be group activities with other candidates designed to see how you perform in a team situation.

Often, candidates fail to perform to the best of their abilities because they were thrown into a situation they were not expecting.

The answer?

You can’t prepare for every eventuality but you can certainly prepare for most!

Generally, you will only be expected to attend one interview.  However, it is important for you to be aware that many employers will require a second interview – or even a third.

You shouldn’t necessarily expect that each of the interviews will be of the same type though.  Your first interview might be by telephone, followed by a panel interview and ending up with an assessment centre for your third interview.  Regardless of the exact scenario, second and third interviews are generally more intensive and more detailed.

There’s nothing to worry about though.  If you’ve planned and prepared for all the following possible interview scenarios then you should be able to sail through the process, no matter how many interviews you are subjected to.

You should also find that the first interview gives you some idea of areas you will need to be prepared for in your second or third interviews.

If my readers only had time to read one chapter of my new book, The Interview Book, I would most like it to be the chapter which lists my 5 Top Tips.  It encapsulates the most important principles that I cover in the book:

1) Be prepared

The key to preventing pre-interview jitters is preparation.  If you are to be able to convince a recruiter that you are right for the role then you obviously first need to get it clear in your own mind why you are right for the role.   One candidate, famously, upon being asked what they could bring to the company, responded with, “What is it that you do again?”!  Don’t fall into the same trap!

2) Make sure you’re there on time

Yes, it may seem so very obvious, yet late arrival is consistently one of the very top reasons cited by recruiters for their rejecting candidates at interview stage.  Nearly half of recruiters won’t give a candidate a job if they are more than 10 minutes late for interview – regardless of how well they perform.

3) Create answers to potential questions

It’s essential for you to think for yourself and to create your own answers to potential questions.  Wherever possible, try to integrate real-life examples into your answers rather than just speaking hypothetically.

4) Don’t recite your answers parrot-fashion

Too many candidates make the mistake of sounding like they’re reciting answers from an interview book.  Even if you have prepared and memorised your own answers, make sure your delivery is natural and doesn’t come across as rehearsed.

5) Be confident and show your enthusiasm

Confident people inspire confidence in others – if you appear confident that you are able to do the job, the employer is likely to be more inclined to believe that you can.  Be enthusiastic – and show it.

Successfully passing an interview is not rocket science!  Most of what I outline in The Interview Book is reasonably simple to take on board and it’s just a matter of putting in the necessary time and effort.

GOOD LUCK!

So what are some of the most common mistakes people make at interview?

In writing The Interview Book, I actually conducted a comprehensive survey to derive a ‘Top 15’ most common interview mistakes – and then explain in detail how to avoid them.

Some are reasonably obvious such as dressing inappropriately or making a poor first impression.  Others are less obvious such as being critical of others, failing to ask your own questions at the end of the interview or even prematurely talking money.

For example, questions about pay and holidays are best avoided unless of course the interviewer brings up these topics themselves.  Bringing them up yourself during your interview can place too much focus on what you are expecting from the employer – rather than what you are offering them.  That’s never a good idea.

Why’s that?

Because your emphasis must always, always be on what you can do for them rather than what they can do for you.  It’s an elementary sales tactic – but it works.

Your CV is only half the story isn’t it?  What about the interview?

Yes, indeed.  You should never lose sight of the fact that the primary aim of your CV is purely and simply to win you an interview.

Once you’ve been invited to interview, people often think, well, I’ll just turn up and be myself – which is fine, but it won’t get you the job!  You need to plan and prepare for an interview as you are still up against many other applicants and this is your key opportunity to make an impact.

Your CV has helped you get your foot in the door; you need to do the rest!