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Welcome The Complete Interview Guide | 1

THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW GUIDE

HELPING YOU LAND THE PERFECT ROLE

CONTENTS

02 Welcome 03 Prepare to be the best you How to prepare The day of the interview 09 Make a strong start How to maximise the first five minutes of an interview 15 Know your interview questions Common interview questions Tell a powerful story 23 Avoid common interview mistakes Top six mistakes to avoid 29 Thrive in all conditions Making that Skype interview count Understand your interviewer Overcoming unconscious bias 35 Contact Us

Welcome 1 | The Complete Interview Guide

PREPARE TO BE THE BEST YOU

Prepare to be the best you 3 | The Complete Interview Guide

We see it all the time – great candidates

being passed over because they didn’t

prepare for an interview properly. Even if

you don’t have the full skill set you can

still land the job by being well prepared

and enthusiastic.

Prepare to be the best you The Complete Interview Guide | 4

I always start by asking people to explain

what our business does. This deceptively

simple question floors lots of people – it’s

amazing how many interviewees struggle

with it, perhaps because they’re attending

several interviews in a row and haven’t

made the time to do much research.

But if you don’t come across as having

a firm grasp of the company and why it’s

hiring, the interviewer can only conclude

that you’re not really that bothered about

the job.

Use your questions to demonstrate your preparation and insight. For example, if you’ve looked at some of their employees’ LinkedIn profiles and seen that people tend to get promoted every two to three years, then ask about that.

While it’s a good idea to look at the interviewer’s LinkedIn profile, it’s important to ensure you don’t come across as ‘creepy’ by commenting on personal information you’ve gleaned – it’s best to keep it professional.

Likewise, read the annual report and latest press releases. Look for things where you can make a link to the role and department you are hoping to join. For example, “I read that you’ve just launched x. What will that mean for the growth of this role?”

Be creative and imaginative, and remember to avoid questions about pay and benefits in the first interview. These topics can be discussed once you’ve been offered the job.

FAST FACTS

• Go the extra mile with your research
• Map out how your skills and experience match the job description
• Do a mock interview with a friend or your recruiter
• Prepare interesting questions to make yourself stand out

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WHAT TO WEAR

With six in 10 managers saying how an interviewee dresses has a big impact on their employability, first impressions really do count. However, nowadays there is a lot of flexibility and variety in what people wear to work, so it’s important to do your research by looking at social channels such as Glassdoor and Youtube to see what the dress code is. You don’t want to show up at a tech start-up in a three-piece suit!

Your recruitment consultant will advise you on the dress code, but if you’re dealing directly with the hiring manager, then it’s perfectly acceptable to ask them outright. For example, “I hope you don’t mind me asking but can you please tell me what the dress code is for the interview?” Dressing professionally will help your skills, achievements and personality to shine through. Remember to subtly change your outfit for the second interview.

THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW

While preparing for the interview is important, it’s also vital to prepare for the day itself by planning your outfit, transport route and what to take.

Prepare to be the best you 7 | The Complete Interview Guide

MAKE A STRONG START

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One candidate I interviewed recently

asked me a non-stop string of questions

about my family, the job, the company,

things in the news – all sorts of things.

But he didn’t really have much to say

himself and he didn’t really wait to hear my

answer before asking the next question,

so he just came across as rather anxious

and scattered.

Make a strong start The Complete Interview Guide | 10

It’s important that you stand to greet your

interviewer with a firm handshake, eye

contact and a smile. Remember not to

sit until you’re offered a seat. They may

initiate some small talk to put you at ease,

so use this opportunity to demonstrate

your interpersonal skills.

3. CREATE A STRONG FIRST

IMPRESSION

First impressions count, and non-verbal cues matter even more than verbal ones. So in those first few minutes, it’s all about smiling confidently, shaking hands firmly, making eye contact and generally looking as if you’re glad to be there and you want the job. Lean in slightly, look alert and interested, and wait to be invited to sit down. In everything you do, project an attitude of energy, enthusiasm and interest.

Clothes-wise, try to match your dress style to that of the company you’re meeting.

You want to project some personality and charisma, but you also want to come across as a good fit, so if in doubt always err on the formal side.

FAST FACTS

• Be professional from the moment you leave the house
• Be courteous and friendly to everyone you encounter
• Make sure your body language shows you’re engaged and enthusiastic
• Match your dress style to that of the company you’re meeting

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4. BE READY FOR THE SMALL

TALK

Getting the small talk right (or wrong) can have big consequences. It’s a way for people to build rapport and affinity, and start to generate that elusive, intangible quality of ‘chemistry’ that characterises all effective business relationships.

So as part of your interview preparation, it’s a good idea to think ahead to some likely topics that might come up, to help keep the conversation flowing smoothly. The key is to think of some topics where you have a shared interest, so that you’re able to both ask and answer credible questions.

For example, if you see a picture of your interviewer’s family, perhaps you could ask about them – and be ready with a family anecdote of your own. Or if you’re a sports fan and you spot signs that your interviewer

is too, perhaps you could ask a suitable question that you’ve also got an interesting answer to (‘Do you ever get to the matches?’ ‘So who’s going to win the Cup this year?’ etc).

Think, too, about topical themes. For example, has your potential employer been in the news recently? Or could you ask about the potential impact on the company of a recent development, such as Brexit or falling share prices or a serious malware attack? In each case, make sure you have an interesting thought of your own to contribute too.

I like to make a point of coming down

to greet candidates in person. On one

occasion, a candidate assumed I was an

assistant, treated me in a very offhand way

and rather rudely asked me to get them a

drink. They got quite a shock when they

saw I was heading up the interview panel!

But what most disappointed me was the

idea that it’s appropriate to treat staff of

any level in such a way.

Make a strong start 13 | The Complete Interview Guide

KNOW YOUR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Know your interview questions 15 | The Complete Interview Guide

Make sure you’re listening to the questions

and tailoring your answers – you can

prepare, but you need to understand the

nuances of the person interviewing you.

You may have great intentions about what

you plan to say in the interview, but don’t

force it if it’s not natural.

Know your interview questions The Complete Interview Guide | 16

Don’t exaggerate when answering

common or competency questions. It’s

important to tell the truth and discuss

what you learned through the experience.

ability to function effectively as part of a team. Choose three qualities that focus on how your strengths will benefit this specific role, and try to include a combination of hard and soft skills.

‘WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME?’ Think realistically about where this job can take you and how that fits with your career plans. You want to come across as ambitious, but not impatient or ruthless. Ideally you’ll find a way to show how your goals and

ambitions align with those of the company.

‘TELL US ABOUT YOUR HOBBIES AND INTERESTS’ This is a good chance to show another side of yourself and to hopefully build rapport with the interviewer. Look to surface something surprising or unexpected that will provoke curiosity and help you to stand out in the interviewer’s mind.

FAST FACTS

• Practise summarising your skills, experience and career history
• Make note of your strengths and weaknesses
• Think about the future and how you want your career to grow
• Know why you’d like to work for this company

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DISTINGUISH YOURSELF

Competency questions are a useful way for employers to distinguish if you’re a good fit for their organisation, and to differentiate between different candidates with similar levels of skill and experience. That’s because no two stories – and no two storytellers – are the same.

Stories are a powerful communication tool because they appeal to both the emotional and rational sides of the brain. They’re a chance for you to show more of your personality and establish a warmer connection with your interviewer that goes beyond the data of your CV. You can also use them to demonstrate more of what you’re capable of, and to steer the interview in the direction that best showcases your suitability for the role.

WHAT WILL I BE ASKED?

There’s a wide range of topics that you might be asked a competency question about. The questions tend to fall into several predictable categories, such as personal qualities, interpersonal skills and team behaviour, leadership and management, commercial and client skills, as well as problem- solving and decision-making skills.

Here are some examples:

• ‘Tell us about a time when you had to deal with challenging feedback on your work’
• ‘Tell me about a time when you were able to resolve a conflict within your team’
• ‘Tell me about a time when you were able to help a team member who was struggling with morale issues’

TELL A POWERFUL STORY

Interviewers are relying more and more on competency questions to help them differentiate between competing candidates. But what are they exactly – and what’s the best way to approach them?

Know your interview questions 19 | The Complete Interview Guide