Tips for your next job interview
Posted: 11 Jul 2017
We have looked at six top tips you should remember in your next interview.
No matter how you look at it, a job interview can be a very nerve-racking time. Whether it is your first or your 50th interview, you are bound to feel apprehensive when the big day comes. So, how do you deal with the nerves on the big day?
Highlight your achievements
One of the main things the interviewer will want to know is that you spent the time with your previous company wisely, rather than just sitting back and taking it easy while you were there.
By breaking down your achievements and talking about the positive impact you had on the company, you can highlight how you progressed over the duration of your employment. Any promotions or increases in responsibilities that you received during your time with the company should also be mentioned.
Doing this will show that you certainly did not lack ambition when in your old company. In fact, you got everything that you could get from the employer regarding progression, and now it is time for you to move on and develop at a new company.
Don’t doubt yourself
This may be easier said than done, but if you are full of self-doubts, you cannot confidently sell yourself to your interviewer. If you have been in your current job role for a long time, chances are you will be feeling a bit rusty and out of practice. However, if you put in an adequate amount of preparation before the interview, you will put yourself in the best possible position.
Before your interview, try rehearsing some interview questions in front of other people or the mirror to get used to saying your answers aloud. As you do this, try to exude confidence by making eye contact, sitting up straight and smiling. It may sound like small, simple things, but acting confident can soon turn into feeling confident.
Emphasise your need for change
If you have been in a job for a long time, your years of service can sometimes be seen as complacency or being afraid of new challenges by a potential employer. To get across that this isn’t the case, you need to be clear about your need for change, hence why you are in the interview.
You should remember to not speak negatively about your previous employer, instead talk about what attracted you to this job in particular, be it the industry, job role, room for progression or size of the company. When you are asked why you are looking to leave your current role, focus on the positive changes that will come with the new role rather than the negatives of your old role.
Demonstrate that you are open-minded
Another reservation that your interviewer may have is that the processes and practices you followed in your old job have become ingrained in you, especially if you have been in that role for a long time. This may cause them to become concerned that it will take you a lot of time to adjust to the new way of working.
To counter any potential doubt that your interviewer may have, you can discuss the ways that you have previously showcased innovative ideas you explored in your previous role. This may be times where you have adjusted to change within the business, suggested a new idea that was implemented or taken it upon yourself to learn something new.
Show you can build new relationships
Building relationships in a new environment is something that is very important, so you must be able to demonstrate to the interviewer that this is something you are capable of doing.
There has no doubt been times in the past where you have needed to work with new members of the company. This may be situations such as leading meetings with new clients, representing the business at networking events or even training new members of staff. Whatever the situation, you need to make it clear to the interviewer that you are capable of forming new relationships.
Be sure to have examples such as these at the forefront of your mind and include where relevant during the interview. Highlighting how you were able to build a relationship with someone over a short space of time, whether through finding common interests, your listening skills or asking the questions.
Demonstrate that you are an expert in your field
Hopefully, over the course of the interview you have demonstrated your level of expertise in your field, but taking extra steps to emphasise the knowledge you have learned from previous roles.
As well as highlighting your qualifications and other achievements, you should talk about why you are passionate about what you do. You should talk about how you keep your skills up to date, whether that is through reading publications or attending training courses.
However you get the point across, it is vital that you demonstrate that you have a vast amount of relevant knowledge, but you also keep up to date on the latest industry news to maintain your expert status.
It is also vital that you ask plenty of questions at the end of the interview to show that you are interested in the company and would like to learn more about how it operates.
If you are seeking a new career take a look at our selection of job vacancies. Get on the path to a new career today.
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