Interview success isn’t just about showcasing your relevant skills and experience. It’s also about demonstrating real interest in the role and the company. So how do you improve your interview performance and avoid letting yourself down? It's easy if you follow these tips
Research the company and really understand what they do
It’s not enough to just read the introductory paragraph on their website home page. You need to be able to talk about their products/ services / projects / personnel / culture. Insufficient research demonstrates a lack of interest in the role and company.
Provide strong reasons for why you have applied
What motivated you to apply? Simply stating that your skills and experience align with the job requirements isn't enough, as other candidates will likely say the same. Show that you're genuinely interested by including information gained from your research and connecting it to your background. This gives you the opportunity to stand out from your competitors.
Fully understand the role and requirements
Are you fully aware of the role's responsibilities? Have you carefully reviewed the job advertisement and/or position description? Can you integrate relevant skills, experience and examples into your responses?
Show positivity and enthusiasm
How you come across at interview can have a huge impact on the outcome. If you appear unenthusiastic and flat, it may discourage interviewers because they think you lack interest in the role or their company. Most of us aren’t natural sales people, but an interview is one time you need to “market yourself” and demonstrating enthusiasm and positivity plays a significant role in achieving that.
Ensure you have end of interview questions prepared
Having 2 or 3 questions to ask at the end of an interview demonstrates your interest and keenness for the role. Ideally they should be about the job responsibilities / company / career options / culture rather than just about salary or hours.
Finally, don't forget that you've already been successful by getting to this stage, so the company is genuinely interested in your skills and experience. Don't let yourself down by not putting your best self out there in every part of the interview.
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