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Once you’ve been put forward for a role and the prospective employer likes what they see on your CV, in many cases the next step will be a face-to-face interview. Most people find job interviews to be a stressful, intimidating experience, but it’s a means to an end, so it’s essential you give it all you’ve got.
The average interview will only take about 30 minutes of your time, but it could impact the rest of your life. So how do you make sure you nail that job interview? Here’s our guide…
The Increased Use of Psychometric & Skills Tests
One change we have seen over the last few years is that an increasing number of employers are adding more stages to the interview process. Some candidates view skill and psychometric tests as a nuisance, but in the current economic climate, they are simply a way for the employer to try to safeguard their investment.
The direct investment that goes into new hires in the form of recruitment agency fees, training and the onboarding process is substantial, so it’s understandable that employers will do everything they can to weed out those who are not up to the job.
In terms of preparation, the employer may have example skills and personality tests you can take on their website. If not, there will be skills tests you can find online that relate to your particular industry sector. Equally, with psychometric tests, there are plenty of practice tests you can take online.
The Interview
As a candidate, you should not underestimate the amount of work that should go into your interview preparation. If you actually want the job then ‘blagging it’ is not an option. Interview preparation is the key to success and is the one thing that can give you the edge over other candidates who might be better qualified for the role.
From our point of view, the best preparation is to leave no stone unturned. You should:
- Find out who the interviewer is, what their background is and what they’re like as people. Talk to the recruiter and use LinkedIn to get as much information as possible – without appearing too stalker-like, of course!
- Do a dummy run of the journey at the same time the interview will be taking place. Even if you think you know where the interview location is, it will make you much calmer on the day if you know exactly where you’re going. You should aim to arrive 15 minutes early to account for traffic, road works, delayed trains etc.
- Wear appropriate clothes to the interview. If the dress code is vague, make sure you’re over- rather than underdressed.
- Know all the information you have included on your CV inside out and provide more detail when prompted.
- Think about what questions you are likely to be asked and make sure you have answers prepared. Looking carefully at the job description will give you an idea of some of the questions you’re likely to face. Behavioural questions are a common stumbling block, so make sure you have answers prepared for these common examples.
- Telephone and video interviews are becoming more common. These should be treated just as seriously as the interview itself. Sitting at a desk, dressing professionally and making sure the technology works will give you the best chance.
- If you’re going to be tested, make sure you practice.
Getting the Support You Need
There’s no point in us putting a candidate forward for a job if we don’t give them the support they need to secure the role. The work we do helping candidates prepare for interviews is arguably the most important part of our process. That’s what makes our candidates so successful and keeps our clients coming back for more.
There are cases where the candidates we have helped prepare for interviews have been successful in securing the job as a direct result. However, we also value the client’s time, and if ever we feel a candidate is not taking an interview seriously, we will cancel the interview.
Getting a job is not just about turning up and hoping for the best. Preparation is everything. At DB Charles Recruitment, we work with you to give you the very best chance of landing the role. That’s the level of candidate care that sets us apart. Read more about our candidate preparation process or get in touch to discuss your employment situation.
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