The first few moments of your interview can have a decisive impact on how well the rest of it goes. Here’s how to start strong – together with some cautionary tales of what not to do from real interviewers…
1. Remember the interview starts as soon as you leave the house
The interview starts long before you shake hands and sit down around the table. You never know who you might bump into as you get off a bus, or enter the company’s building. For all you know, your interviewer could be in the same coffee-bar queue as you. So make sure you project a friendly, confident, professional air from the moment you set off.
Doubtless you’ll have made sure you arrive early. Give yourself time to have a comfort break and make sure you’re hydrated. Make conversation with the receptionist. Switch off your phone and take in your surroundings. You might notice something that will make a useful small-talk topic later. Don’t try and cram in any last-minute facts. You want to come across as calm and organised, not flustered and under-prepared.
What not to do:
‘I once heard someone standing outside our building, smoking furiously and complaining loudly on their phone. It was about the early start time of their meeting and wondering aloud why they were even there. When I got to my next interview, I realised to my dismay the noisy moaner was my next candidate! Not a great start…’
2. Treat everyone you meet as your interviewer
Make sure that you’re polite and friendly to everyone you come across in the interview process. From greeting the receptionist, to the people you share a lift with. Including walking through an open-plan office to reach your meeting-room. These are all touchpoints with your potential future employer. Co-workers will often share their impressions of visitors afterwards. So you want everyone who comes into contact with you to see you in as positive a light as possible.
What not to do:
‘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. Rather rudely asked me to get them a drink. They got quite a shock when they saw I was heading up the interview panel! Though. What most disappointed me was the idea that it’s appropriate to treat staff of any level in such a way.’
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. Generally looking as if you’re glad to be there, and you want the job. Lean in slightly, widen your eyebrows slightly, 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 should be able to learn about the company's typical dress code through their website and social media outlets. Look into especially any content about its working culture, and your recruiter can advise you too. 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.
What not to do:
‘One candidate I interviewed asked for a glass of water while they waited. It was icy-cold. They must have spilled it just before we met. So my first impression was a very damp, chilly handshake. So always hold your drink in your left hand!’
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. To generate that elusive, intangible quality of ‘chemistry’ that characterises all effective business relationships.
So as part of your interview preparation, try to think ahead to some likely topics that might come up. This is to help keep the conversation flowing smoothly. The key is to come up with topics where you have a shared interest. So then 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. Be ready with a family anecdote of your own. Also, if you and your interviewer are sports fans, ask pertinent questions to which you have interesting answers too.
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 falling share prices or a serious malware attack. In each case, make sure you have a captivating thought of your own to contribute too.
What not to do:
‘One candidate I interviewed recently asked me non-stop questions about my family, the job, the company, news and so on. But he didn’t really have much to say about himself. He didn’t really wait to hear my answer before asking the next question. He just came across as rather anxious and scattered.’
5. Be on message from the outset
Politicians coached in handling the media are always advised to have a maximum of three key messages to get across. They often stick to and repeat them throughout any interview.
Similarly, it’s a good idea to have two or three key points about what you have to offer. Additionally, what you’re looking for. For example, ‘I’m ready for the challenge of managing a team’. Or ‘I combine compliance experience with technical expertise’; ‘in my career, I’ve developed an extensive digital transformation skillset’.
These are the three key points that you want your interviewer to remember about you. So try and work them in naturally whenever you can, even in the first few minutes. It’s also important to have a ready answer for some of the most common questions that come up early on. ‘Tell me why you want this job’ and ‘What’s your understanding of what this job involves?’
What not to do:
‘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 people struggle with it. Perhaps because they’re attending several interviews in a row and haven’t made the time to do much research. Often time candidates don't come across as having a firm grasp of the company and why it’s hiring. In this case, the interviewer can only conclude that you’re not really that bothered about the job.’
First impressions count
Survey after survey highlights the importance of getting the first few seconds and minutes of your job interview right…
- 6 in ten managers say an interviewee’s dress sense has a big impact on their employability (source: monster.co.uk survey)
- 33 per cent of bosses says they know within 90 seconds whether they will hire someone (source: Classes and Careers)
- It can take someone about a 1/10 of a second to form an impression of your trustworthiness. And that impression rarely changes later (source: Psychological Science)
- Looking your interlocutor in the eye can help to raise their perception of your intelligence. (source: Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin)
- More conservative colours such as blue and black are a safer bet in interviews. Orange is the worst! (source: CareerBuilder)
How to recover when thrown by an interview question
You’re in an interview, and you get asked a question that you’re not quite sure how to answer. How do you recover? We’ve listed some common scenarios with solutions which might help the next time you might find yourself in this situation:
1. You get asked about a difficult time in your career or a gap in your CV
Make sure you have planned an answer to this in advance which you can deliver neutrally and honestly. Make sure you don’t talk negatively of past employers as this could raise concern for the interviewer. At the same time, you don’t want to seem like you're hiding something or are unwilling to share your experiences. Make sure you always answer the question but then re-direct your conversation to something more positive.
2. You’re asked an odd or confusing question
Remember that the interview questions are designed to determine whether you have the skills required for the job. Sometimes you can be unsure of the angle of a question or answer. Try to revert to an answer that demonstrates the skills and qualities that make you capable of doing the job.
3. You have a mind blank
We’ve all been there. You get asked a question which is seemingly quite easy to answer, but your mind fails you. Firstly, don’t panic and simply ask the interviewer to clarify the question. You can then ask for some time to think. There is nothing wrong with asking for a few moments. Take a sip of water and have a moment to formulate an answer. If you are still struggling, you should deliver a partial answer. This is better than not being able to answer at all.
To reduce the chances of the above happening, always ensure you are fully prepared for your interview. Spend time practising your answers and making sure you know your CV inside out.
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