Our Best Tips For Your Upcoming Job Interview

Preparing for an upcoming job interview? Here are some of our best job interview tips that are easily implemented and make a big difference. (And 15 of the most common job interview questions to prepare for.)

Remember when you go to your job interview that you are interviewing with people. This means that success is as much about making a great impression and standing out from other candidates as it is about your qualifications and experience.

Before your job interview, make sure that you do your research. Research the company and the position in detail. Understand the company’s values and culture. Align your answers with their goals and relate them back to specific requirements of the role you are interviewing for. This will not only help you answer the interviewer’s questions well but also show your interest in the role and their business.

Look the part for your job interview. First impressions really matter. Be confident and make strong eye contact. Choose professional, well-fitting clothes that you feel both comfortable and confident in. Now isn’t the time to look flashy or wear anything revealing. It’s a good idea to scope out what other’s in that business wear in order to see what outfit is appropriate for the company and the position you’re applying for. You might dress differently for a workshop than you might an accountancy.

Be early, never late. Lateness is the quickest way to ruin your first impression. Plan ahead and allow more time than you think necessary to get there. If you are running late, make sure that you call ahead, explain why and apologise your heart out. Ideally, aim to arrive 15 minutes early to give yourself time to relax before meeting the interviewers.

Prepare and rehearse for the most common interview questions. There will be some common questions specific to the role you are going for so do your research. Here are some of the most common questions to expect in interviews more generally:

• Can you tell me about yourself?
• How did you hear about this job?
• Why do you want this job?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• Why should we hire you?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• What do you know about the company?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• What is your work ethic?
• What kind of environment do you prefer to work in?
• How do you handle work-related disagreements with your colleagues?
• How would your current employer and colleagues describe you?
• How do you handle pressure?
• Do you have any questions for me?

When answering questions, show enthusiasm and interest. Practice active listening to engage the interviewers and allow your excitement for the role to show in your answers. Show a genuine interest in what the company does too (more research required here too!).

Prepare some questions that show your interest in the role. Try and dig deeper in to the company so show that you care about the detail. Asking about the interviewers and the business will also help you learn more about a company and the role before accepting the job offer that will hopefully come your way.

And most importantly, relax in to it and remember that you are there because you’ve already been shortlisted! Believe in yourself and the rest becomes easier. Especially if you follow the job interview tips above.

Good luck in that job interview! Go get ‘em!