Mastering the Art of Job Interviews: Proven Strategies for Success in the Digital Age
For some people, going on an interview is a daunting experience and within an extremely competitive job market, candidates need to be on top of their game when being interviewed. Candidates need to demonstrate a lot more than their skill set to prospective employers. Since Covid, more and more first, second and even final interviews now take place online as opposed to in person, so here are a few tips you can use for each situation.
Online interviews:
Try not to fidget when you answer questions.
Online interviews via video call are often used as first interviews to screen a short list of suitable candidates and to test competency, suitability for the role, company and cultural ‘fit’.
Try to do the following in an online interview- before the zoom/teams meeting, check your connection and make sure that your broadband/wi- fi is working, dial in to the call a few minutes before the interview is due to start so that the interviewer/s can see that you are ready.
Look directly at the camera on your computer ( not at yourself on the screen), don’t swing in your chair, try to eliminate background noise, don’t let the dog bark, don’t answer the front door for the Amazon delivery in the middle of the interview, look presentable- brush your hair/get a haircut before the interview, wear a clean neat top/jumper/hoodie, don’t look like you have just got out of bed, smile, switch off your phone, try not to fidget when you answer questions.
In-person interviews:
Body language is very important - you want to come across as personable and friendly.
Arrive at least five minutes before the interview starts. Don’t be late.
Be polite to the person whom you meet at reception and the person who takes you to the interview room. First impressions are very important.
Often, these staff members will be asked about a candidate’s interaction with others outside of the formal interview situation and you don’t want to fail at the first hurdle by being impolite to administrative staff members.
When you enter the interview room, sit at the back of the chair- don’t perch or lean forward and try not to fold or cross your arms during the interview. Body language is very important - you want to come across as personable and friendly.
Eye- contact- it’s very important to establish and maintain eye contact with your interviewer and anyone in the interview room to establish a connection. People who don’t make or maintain eye contact in an interview might be regarded as inauthentic, shy or trying to hide something.
Useful tips for all interview situations:
Before the interview- prepare, prepare, prepare- read the job description and your own CV again- try to match your skills and experience to what has been set out in the job specification. Read up about the company online before the call- see what challenges the company might be facing and how you might be able to contribute to growing and building the organization with your experience. Try to understand what the job might entail and think about your skill set, what you might be able to offer and what might set you apart from the other candidates who are also interviewing for the role.
Research who might be interviewing you on the day and how your experience might complement or mirror what they do.
Have some good questions ready to ask at the end of the interview when you are asked by the interviewer- ‘do you have any questions?’
Be prepared for ‘curve ball’ questions such as ‘How do you deal with bureaucracy?’ ‘give me an example of where you’ve had to work with a difficult colleague’ or ‘What’s your management style?’
If you are participating in a panel interview, first answer directly to the person who asked the question, then as you speak, direct your gaze to the other people on the panel and address your answers to the whole group.
If you have a competency-based interview, prepare some competency-based answers to questions you think you might be asked based on the job description.
Be prepared for classic interview questions such as- ‘what’s your greatest strength’, ‘what’s your biggest weakness’, ‘give me an example of when you have succeeded or failed in a task. Or ‘How would your colleagues describe you?’
Use the power of the pause- don’t immediately rush your answers, give yourself time to think after being asked a question and pause before you answer.
Don’t over-answer- try to answer the question which is being asked of you as precisely as you can. If the interviewer wants embellishment/additional information- they will ask.
Share genuine situations and talk about how you felt during these situations; this will help you to come across as a genuine candidate who has feelings and empathy, who is to be trusted and a potential good colleague to have around the office.
The importance of body language:
90% of our communication is non-verbal
Research suggests that 90% of our communication is non-verbal i.e., aside from language our communication takes place via facial expression, hand movements and body gestures, posture and demeanor. So, when you go into an interview setting, watch your body language. Adopt a friendly, open demeanor, sit up straight at the back of the chair, smile, don’t fold your arms, place your feet firmly onto the floor, don’t lean into the tabletop too much and try not to fidget.
The importance of verbal language and the use of storytelling:
When being interviewed- try to use storytelling or metaphors to get your experience across to the interviewer. You want the interviewer to remember you after the interview as someone who has credible experience and a relevant background filled with examples of interesting and relevant experience which shows you are right for the role on offer.
Set your answer to describe a situation which you have experienced which will show off your skills- set the scene, tell the interviewer how you felt during a tricky situation: ’ e.g. I was nervous that this consignment of fresh produce wouldn’t reach the shelves in time due to the power blackout, but because I had pre-programmed the brand-new warehouse computers to ‘emergency mode generator’ everything went smoothly and we didn’t lose one penny of stock. – I was very relieved at this outcome’.
Working as part of a team:
Teamwork is an integral part of most new roles. You might be asked during the interview how you work as part of the team and where you might fit into the management order there. Provide examples of how you can work collaboratively as a team member. Most jobs require some degree of teamwork or other human interaction-, so you need to think about examples of stories that illustrate how you can effectively function with other people within the work environment and collaboratively work as part of a team or as a team leader. You might also want to talk about some of your hobbies here for example, when you were a girl scout you led the trek around Wales in the pouring rain…
If you’re a manager- you might be asked about your management style- for example- if you are a micromanager and your attention to detail? This could be a trick question- so watch out.
When you answer questions about working within a team, be sure to praise the teamwork of your present colleagues and how you have all worked together to achieve a successful outcome on a project or work challenge.
Values:
Many people want jobs that align with their personal values, so if this is something which is important to you, be sure to ask about a company’s values during the interview and how you might contribute to and share their values. For example, if you don’t agree with nuclear energy or cigarette smoking, you may not want to interview with an organization which provides these services or products.
Talking about hobbies can also illustrate how you work well in a team
Talking about hobbies during your interview:
Sharing your personal interests and what you like to do in your spare time makes you more authentic and personable during an interview situation and may help you to relax and relate to your interviewers more effectively. Hobbies such as team sports (football, cricket, rugby, gymnastics, netball, hockey) can also illustrate how you work well in a team and how you work collaboratively and successfully with others.
If you are involved in any charitable activities, you could also discuss how you participate in fund raising or charitable work with others.
At the end of the interview:
Ask the interviewer if there is anything else on which they wanted clarity from you, if there are any further questions they wanted to ask and that you enjoyed meeting with them.
Post- Interview follow- up.
After the interview is over, send a follow up email to the interviewing manager saying that you enjoyed the interview and asking them if there was anything else that you could clarify for them.
Call the headhunter/recruiter/internal hiring manager and ask them for feedback and provide your feedback in an enthusiastic manner if you want to go forward to the next round of interviews.
If you don’t like the company or the hiring manager (who would ultimately be your boss and you don’t want to proceed to the next interview round) , then politely advise the recruiter that you don’t want to proceed with the process, as you didn’t feel that the chemistry was right, or that you didn’t think that the company was a genuine fit for you.
What to expect on a job interview in London
The interview process in London and in other big cities is highly competitive
Interviewing is a highly competitive process and if you’re applying online to a job post, or you have been approached by a headhunter or recruiter, the process will be a highly competitive one. You will be up against other candidates who are as highly skilled, if not better skilled than you are, therefore you need to be likeable and presentable at interview and you need to try to match and mirror as many of the skill requirements on the job specification as possible. Because recruiters, HR talent acquisition managers and headhunters will have a wide array of candidates to choose from, your primary aim is to get onto the interview short list, so that you will be invited to an interview with the organization which is hiring.
The importance of LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the world’s no 1 search engine of choice for careers, so if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile and you are looking for a new role as a manager or senior manager, it might be a good idea to create a profile on Linked In as you want to trigger the search term algorithms used by recruiters which they use to find candidates.
If you want a human to read your LinkedIn- In page, you need to ensure that the algorithms which LinkedIn uses will recognize your skill set for the job description on offer and that you eventually make the short list as your keyword will be recognized and triggered by the algorithm.
Make sure that your Linked-profile is up to date and that you have a business-appropriate, clear photo of yourself.
Try to have a banner image which represents who you are in your job function, instead of using the generic Linked In greyish banner.
Use #hashtags to increase your visibility and make sure that the spelling is correct in your LinkedIn profile.
Ensure that your skills are up to date with each job role or function in which you have participated and that these skills are still relevant. LinkedIn allows you to use up to 50 skills, so try to use as many skills as possible as the search algorithms will pick up on these. Be cautious when using the hashtag # ‘opentowork’ as this might detract from your job search and make recruiters think that you might be too busy with other interviews to consider a role with them. It also might be perceived negatively by the reader.
Well written and well considered covering letters always create a good impression
The significance of the covering letter:
Covering letters are being used more frequently by recruiters, headhunters and HR talent search to check a candidate’s genuine interest in a job application or job role. They are being requested at all levels of the business hierarchy, from entry-level roles to those of CEO. Well written and well considered covering letters always create a good impression and a solid covering letter which highlights your experience and your ability to do the role is more likely to secure you an interview, than a poorly written and rushed covering letter which does not relate to the job specification in question. There is no guarantee that your interviewer will have taken the time to actually read your covering letter, but recruiters and headhunters all use this method to filter out and select the best candidates for the role, candidates which they will subsequently ask to an interview.
The world of job interviews has evolved, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether you're facing an online interview or an in-person one, mastering the art of interviewing is crucial in today's competitive job market. Here are the key takeaways to keep in mind:
Online Interviews:
Ensure a stable internet connection.
Be punctual and join the call a few minutes early.
Maintain eye contact by looking directly at the camera.
Eliminate background noise and distractions.
Dress professionally, even for virtual meetings.
Stay composed, avoid fidgeting, and turn off your phone.
In-Person Interviews:
Arrive early and make a good impression from the moment you enter the building.
Be courteous to everyone you encounter.
Sit comfortably but professionally, and maintain open body language.
Establish and maintain eye contact throughout the interview.
General Interview Tips:
Thoroughly prepare by reviewing the job description and researching the company.
Know your skills and experiences and how they align with the job.
Research the interviewers and their roles.
Prepare thoughtful questions to ask at the end of the interview.
Be ready for both standard and curveball questions.
Use storytelling and metaphors to make your experiences memorable.
Highlight your teamwork abilities, as most jobs require collaboration.
Align your values with the company's and express your commitment.
Share your hobbies and interests to humanize yourself.
After the interview, follow up with a thank-you email and seek feedback.
LinkedIn and Cover Letters:
Optimize your LinkedIn profile with relevant keywords and a professional photo.
Use hashtags strategically to increase your visibility.
Keep your skills updated and relevant.
Be cautious with the "opentowork" hashtag.
Craft well-written covering letters that demonstrate your interest and alignment with the job.
In today's competitive job market, being well-prepared and personable during interviews, both online and in-person, can significantly increase your chances of landing your dream job. Your journey starts with making a great impression, showcasing your skills, and effectively communicating your passion for the role and the company. Good luck in your job search!