Being invited for an interview is an exciting and sometimes daunting experience, especially if it’s for a job you really want. Fortunately, there are some simple techniques you can employ to give yourself the best chance of breezing through. In this article we’ll cover techniques you can use in the two main types of interview, by telephone and face-to-face.
Telephone Interviews
Recruiters will often use a telephone interview when they receive a high volume of applications, as it saves both time and money and more applicants can be considered. The interview is used to weed out poor candidates from the process and those who are not serious about the position offered. While a telephone interview may seem straight-forward, even strong candidates can fall at this first hurdle if not well-prepared. Since the interviewer will have far less cues to evaluate you on, it can be slightly more difficult to build rapport and express your personality. In this case, having experience talking on the phone to clients in an office environment is very beneficial.
1) If you are not used to talking on the phone in a professional manner, try practicing with friends and get them to ask you interview style questions. You can prepare question for them to ask you, or even better, get them to throw ‘curveball’s’ at you as well so you can be ready to answer a wide range of questions.
2) If you have been given a time when you will be called, take advantage of this to prepare:
3) Wear a suit or smart clothes as if you were going for a face-to-face interview. This can help you get into the right mindset or ‘mode’ to talk to your interviewer. It will make you more focused, assertive and give you a confidence boost which will come across in your voice.
4) Go somewhere quiet where you can concentrate and won’t be distracted by noises or interruptions.
5) Most telephone interviews are less than 30 minutes long so try to be as articulate and concise as you can in your answers.
Things to avoid
1) When talking on the phone outside a work environment it may be tempting to use slang as you might with friends. This is something to avoid at all costs in both telephone and face-to-face interviews. For example say “yes” instead of “yeah” and “OK” instead of “uh-huh”.
2) Interruptions – part of your preparation should be making sure you are ready to receive the phone call. Noisy interruptions are bad for you and the interviewer.
3) Telephone manner – since you only have your voice to convey your interest in the job, try to sound enthusiastic and engaging during the call.
4) Your phone – try to use a land-line for the call to avoid any problems with the connection but if it must be a mobile, make sure the handset is fully-charged.
5) Forgetting the interview – probably the most important thing you can do for yourself is remember when your interview is. If the recruiter calls and you forgot, you will come across as confused, unprepared and disorganized.
Face-to-face interviews
Some of the above techniques can also be used in face-to-face interviews. This is your opportunity to really shine, to ‘go big or go home’. The starting point for preparing for your face-to-face interview is the same though – be prepared and do your research. Having a good knowledge of the company you want to work for and preparing your questions and responses will go a long way towards calming your nerves leading up to the interview.
1) Consider yourself on-stage from the time you enter the company office to when you leave. When you meet the interviewer for the first time give a firm handshake, smile and make eye contact.
2) Once you are seated at the beginning of the interview or even before, take a few deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth. This will help calm your nerves and help you feel more relaxed. You will also be less likely to rush your speech when you first start to talk.
3) Sit with a good posture, back straight and supported against the back of the chair. Rest each hand on the top of your legs, feet flat on the floor and slightly apart. This will help you avoid any tendency to fidget. Both these things will help generate a confident attitude.
4) When asked questions speak clearly and confidently. Make eye contact as much as possible and maintain eye contact at the end of your sentences. This increases your real and perceived conviction in what you are saying. If you are being interviewed by a panel, a general rule of thumb is to change eye contact every 3 seconds. There is a natural tendency to look away every so often to ‘think in space’, so you can use the time changing eye contact to do this.
5) Take your time answering questions. Interviewers expect you to consider your responses so don’t feel rushed to give an instant answer. Just try not to stare at the floor while doing this!
6) You will be prepared for standard questions and be ready to ask some intelligent ones of your own to show your enthusiasm for the company. Some questions that can be surprisingly tricky are when you get asked open ended questions about yourself. Here the interviewer isn’t really interested in whether you play tennis, hockey or Xbox, for them it is simply a process of elimination but for you an opportunity to show flair. Just remember to relate your answers back to the job, perhaps by describing your relevant skills and interests and how they led you to apply for the job.
Lastly, be positive and remember that the interviewer wants to like you just as much as you want to make a good impression.
