How can I navigate the interview for my next move?
I am often asked for advice, on how to effectively navigate the inevitable interview scenario, awaiting all up and coming marketers. For some reason best known to them, they feel that I may well be able to help. I have a simple list that I usually think of and it is based on my perspectives as an interviewer, which perhaps offers some useful insights. I often say to them quite simply that it can be good to look a bit spontaneous, but it is definitely better to do some preparation. I have listed 18 things below that I hope may help:
- What do we hold dear that our interviewer might well also hold dear?
- You know that you will be asked for examples of when you demonstrated relevant skills or experience. So make sure you have them on the tip of your tongue. Write them down too though, just to be safe. You must dig deep to think about the skills and experiences that you have that they need.
- Make sure that you have at least 5 success stories ready to share. Think about how it was your individual actions and approach that led to a positive result. Why was it better because of you? What are the facts? Numbers are always really welcome, but make sure you know them!
- Think about how will you fit in with your prospective employer? They will definitely be thinking the same about you, so give them some help and you will help to tip the balance
- Find out who is interviewing you if you can - what are they likely to see as important? Do some research, give it a lot of thought.
- Try to remember and use their names (don’t use the wrong name, ever!).
- What do you think your tie breakers are? What is it that you have that that will make you just a little bit stronger than your typical peer group member?
- Have plenty of questions ready to show how interested you really are. It can also show that you did your homework and should be taken seriously. For example:
- How will the post Brexit economy affect us?
- How do we see the organisation changing over the next three years?
- What is the most important thing that someone entering their organisation should know?
- Try to avoid things about pay and holidays for a moment.
Think about your conscious and unconscious movements and postures through which your attitudes and feelings are going to communicated to the interviewer(s) whether you like it or not.
You MUST:
- Look the part – dress appropriately (even on Teams!)
- Look interested, use appropriate eye contact, lean ever so slightly forward, never lean back.
- Maintain eye contact with whoever asks a question, but respond to everyone, yes everyone, if it’s a panel. Don’t be afraid to smile, if it is appropriate in context.
- Don’t fall into the trap of just speaking to the nicest person, the friendliest person, or the loudest or most dominant person, don’t gravitate.
- Para linguistics will be at least five times as important as the actual words you use so: Don’t mumble, be audible, and speak slower than you feel naturally inclined to. Put in pauses. Don’t lie!
- Don’t be afraid to take a moment to think, but you need to maintain flow too.
- Keep to the point and ensure your answers are relevant
- Don’t cut the interviewer off mid-sentence!
- Wait for the cue to leave – make sure you continue to make the same impression until you are well out of sight!
- Say thank you when they offer you the job!