idealpeople blog

Right then, we’ve discussed CVs and how to write them and get them out to the masses. It’s probably time to start sharing some interview tips as well. Job interviews are a peculiar phenomenon. The maximum time you spend being interviewed for a job is what - 3 hours (mind you, we know some companies who spend a fair bit longer). In that 3 hours or so (often split between different interviewers), the interviewer is supposed to be able to assess whether or not you can do the job. It’s a hard task - so how can you guarantee success?

The truth is you can’t. However, you can massively increase your chances by following some simple guidelines. The first - to be covered in this article - is preparation.

There’s an old saying which goes along the lines of the best candidate isn’t guaranteed to get the job - the best prepared is. Actually we’re not sure if that’s an old saying or not - in fact, we think it may be a term that we coined. In any case, quibbles aside, it’s true.

It helps, before you even start to prepare in the traditional way (i.e. research), to set yourself up mentally. Remember that a job interview is (or at least should be) a two-way process. It’s the interviewer’s chance to assess you as a potential employee, but it’s also your chance to assess the company you’re interviewing with as a potential employer. You’re going to try and convince the interviewer that you are the right person for this job, but the interviewer also needs to convince you that the company is the right one for you. Holding this at the forefront of your mind will help immensely, not only in settling your nerves, but also at ensuring that you make the right career move for you.

Think about the interviewer
How do you think that you are going to be assessed in the interview? What do you think is going to clinch the job for you? Most will struggle with this question. Try and look at the interview from the interviewer’s point-of-view.

Why do companies hire? To solve a problem - that’s why. The key to succesful preparation for an interview is to understand what that problem is and work out how you are going to solve it.

There are a myriad of reasons as to why a company might be hiring. Maybe they’re seriously short-staffed and need specific expertise to help out. Maybe they fired the last person because they were doing X when Y was needed. Maybe they just won a new client with specific needs - and those skills don’t exist within this company at the moment.

If you’re applying for the job through an agent, get this information from your agent. Do it now. If not, then it’s a bit trickier - but your best bet is to pick up the phone and speak to someone in HR. If you know someone who works there - ask them. Find out the answer to this question.

Plan your pitch and think achievements, not experience
Traditional interviews work on the basis of an interviewer asking questions and the interviewee answering them. Assuming you know the interviewer’s problem, or the reason for hiring, it’s not too hard to predict what the interviewer is going to need to know about you in order to make you an offer.

If the reason for hiring is predominantly down to a need for certain tech skills, read up on them. Refresh. Focus on what you’ve achieved as opposed to more generic things like the amount of time you’ve worked with XYZ. If you implemented a new piece of software which saved your current company millions - then that’s more powerful than the fact you’ve been working with some technology for five years.

If the reason for hiring is because the last person was doing X when Y is needed, draw upon you achievements in implementing/changing/working with Y. Explain what the impact of your work with Y was.

Follow this method of preparation and the rest is easy.

Know the hiring company
Your pitch won’t work unless it’s in context. Who are this company? Where are they going? What are they doing? Use the corporate website as a starter for ten, but remember that corporate websites rarely tell the complete story about a company’s background - it’s controlled marketing information. Use the power of the internet to hunt out information from blogs, forums, news stories - anything that gives information that isn’t necessarily mentioned on the website.

Try to find out about the background of the interviewer too - either ask your agent or do some hunting on LinkedIn, Facebook, corporate websites etc. You never know what you might find out - maybe you’ve got something in common, maybe they’ve worked with someone you know. If you can find out more information on the interviewer’s style or what they’re looking for then you’re already on to something.

Follow these steps and you’ll be fully prepared with your pitch. With that in hand, all you need to do is the interview itself. Keep your eyes tuned next week for more tips.