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!
