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Before the Interview
Consider the job specification, plus your skills and experience
Transferrable Skills
What transferable skills do you have and how do these support your application?
Take a look at the job description to understand what skills are important to the client and consider what experiences you have which prove these skills. A lot of employers love candidates who offer excellent customer service skills if the position is customer-focused. Perhaps you have a high attention to detail and accuracy. Maybe you have experience taking the lead on projects or you have been responsible for people management.
Work Experience
What relevant work experience do you have which supports your application?
Many clients will require a minimum level of relevant work experience for their roles. For example, an Office Administrator position may require at least 2 years’ experience in administration roles.
Review the job specification which highlights the essential and desirable skills, and know exactly which qualities you can offer to the client. Has your employment history given you experience in relevant software or applications? Have you got industry connections? What will set you apart from the bare minimum requirements, when competing against other candidates?
Career Goals
What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
It is equally important to both you and your prospective employer that your needs align when it comes to short-term and long-term goals. For example, temporary jobs can offer short-term solutions to staff shortages and backlogs, whilst a fixed-term contract can help support a business over a specific amount of time, such as to cover maternity leave or as a secondment.
Permanent contracts offer businesses permanent solutions, and therefore it is important that you are looking for longevity if you are applying for a permanent position. Clients are often concerned if a candidate’s CV shows lots of jobs in a small amount of time, as they may question your loyalty and commitment to the company. Be aware that some clients may address your reasons for leaving previous jobs at the interview stage, for example:
limited career progression / seeking a new challenge / company values did not align
the position was mis-sold / career break due to... / redundancy / personal circumstances
toxic working environment / company or branch closure
It can often be worth highlighting your reasons for leaving on your CV, to make your career changes and intentions clear to prospective employers.
Strengths
What are your strenghts and why would these make you an asset to the company?
Most employers, in one way or another, will ask you why you think you’d be good at the job. So what can you offer, considering the job specification? Perhaps you are a great team player, or you can work well on your own. Maybe you are quick to learn new systems and processes. Are you invested in your learning and development?
Weaknesses
What are your weaknesses and why should these be overlooked at this stage?
Talking about your weaknesses could leave a lasting negative impression on the client. Therefore, it is important to turn any negatives into a positive during your interview. For example, if you find it difficult to say no to doing tasks, this could be because you are highly committed to supporting the team and wider business. Do you struggle with public speaking? Perhaps this is because you like a more personable, 1-to-1 approach. Whatever the reason, consider how your weaknesses can have a positive impact on you and the business.
Your Uniqueness
What skills and experience do you have that sets you apart from other applicants?
Depending on the position and company, employers might receive an abundance of CVs and all of these could meet the minimum skill and experience requirements. So what makes you special? Consider what you have done outside of work that could support your application further, such as volunteering or traveling or further qualifications. Do you have a fun fact about yourself or an experience that has grown you as an individual? What sets you apart?
During the Interview
Make sure you're presentable and smartly dressed - we can help with advice if required.
Face to Face Interviews
Arrive in good time, at least 10 mins early in readiness for your interview to start at the given time. If the area is unfamiliar, give yourself more time in case it takes you longer to find where you should be.
Driving to your interview?
Keep an eye on the current traffic on your route and your ETA. A good app to use is Waze, which offers live traffic updates using Google Maps and user contributions.
Using public transport?
Stay up to date with relevant travel news in case of delays or replacement services. Give yourself plenty of time, especially for long-distance journeys.
Virtual Interviews
Join the meeting 5 minutes before the given time, to help show your punctuality.
Dress to impress - even if you’re interviewing from the comfort of your own home, you should dress as though you are attending in person, so dress smart from head to toe. It is psychologically proven to help get you into the right mindset and attitude for your interview!
Asking Questions
Be prepared to answer questions about the skills and experience outlined on your CV. Interviewers will also often ask scenario-based questions based on the requirements of the role you're interviewing for, such as "Tell me about a time when you overcame an objection".
At the end of the interview, employers will typically ask if you have any questions for them. It is always worth having questions prepared - you might already have some in mind, but you should always ask at least one thing back. For example:
What benefits do you offer? What is the company culture like?
Are there any progression opportunities? How would you describe your management style?
What do you enjoy most about working for the company?
Why has this position become available? If somebody left, what was the reason for them leaving?
It is also worth asking when you should expect to receive feedback from your interview.
After the Interview
Prospective employers should help manage your expectations throughout the application process.
Managing Expectations
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Some employers will have specific dates when applications close
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Some employers will have specific dates when interviews are taking place
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Some employers will advise a specific date by which you should receive feedback
As mentioned above, it is worth asking when you should expect to receive feedback from your interview, if they do not tell you during the interview.
View every interview as great practice and an excellent learning experience, regardless of the outcome - the more interviews you do, the more confident you should feel.
GOOD LUCK!
Need extra help with your preparation?
We are available to support with interview preparation upon request.