How to ace that next interview

Research

Research is critical to performing well in the interview. Review company and industry websites, articles and annual reports and make sure you have a good understanding of the organisation’s products, services, location(s), size, financial situation and growth potential. Speak to as many people who work for the organization as you can to get a real world view of the company (sort facts from individual opinions). LinkedIn can be a good place to research the interview panel.

To get the edge over other candidates, aim to understand the needs of the interviewers and show how your experience and skills will help solve their problems.

Shaping their perception

Know when your interview starts – the interview begins the moment you have any interaction with anyone from the organization. It is very difficult to change the first impression a person has of you so manage this process well.

You are making an impression:

when you speak with the interviewer or Human Resources Manager on the phone,
when they view your social media profile or other online content,
as soon as you are in view when attending a face to face interview, and
when you begin speaking and answering interview questions

Make sure your elevator pitch is polished and that you present professionally, at all times considering how you are demonstrating your ‘fit’ for the team and organization.

Prepare and practice responses to some of the most common interview questions as well as being able to discuss examples of your work in the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format.

Common Questions

Expect the unexpected and prepare responses to commonly asked interview questions as well as behavioural questions (also commonly known as competency based interviews).

Why don’t you start by telling us a little about yourself?

With your response, use an extended version of your elevator pitch, focusing their attention on the aspects of your skills and experience that are most relevant and overlap with what they are looking for. By undertaking research prior to the interview you will be able to respond to this questions in such a way as to demonstrate how you will be able to solve their problems. Discuss your unique selling points. 60 – 90 seconds is a rough estimate of the length of time to be speaking.

What are your strengths?

You will have many strengths that you could choose to talk about here. Pick the three that are most relevant for the role and discuss these, providing a very brief example where possible.

What are your areas of development?

The aim of this question is to understand:

Is there anything they should know about you that is a red flag?
Do you take the time to self reflect? And, if yes:
What steps do you take to improve on your areas of development?

So consequently the format to answer this question should cover all the above, ie.

Choose something to talk about that will not raise any red flags (ie something that is not a core requirement of the role)
Talk about it in the past tense,
Discuss what