If your cover letter, resume and selection criteria responses are successful, the next stage of the job application process could be an interview.
Preparation is key to interview success. Putting time into understanding what you offer, and how you can demonstrate your skill set, will ensure you approach the job interview with confidence and clarity in your responses.
Step 1: Review and research
Revisit the details of the job advert and, if possible, the job description. Now’s also the time to do further research on the company with purpose and focus. Make specific notes on what the company’s current challenges are and the problems they will be expecting you to help solve, what technical skills they value and the transferable skills that will be important, and what words and phrases they use.
Step 2: Identify your strengths
Using the notes from your research and your most relevant experience, identify 3 key strengths that are relevant to the role. Consider both technical and transferable skills. Consider why each skill is important to this role specifically and how you can demonstrate strengths in a relevant context. Practise answering ‘What key skills do you bring to the role?’.
Step 3: Know your why
Be clear and precise on why you want to work for this company and why this job. Write down as many reasons as you can, then choose the most interesting or the one that resonates most with you. Be authentic, specific and honest. Practise answering ‘Why do you want to work for this company/why do you want this job?’.
Step 4: Use the STAR method
Interviewers are looking for examples and details in your answers. Your answers should showcase the key skills required for the role i.e. teamwork, problem-solving, data analysis.
The STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method provides you with a simple framework for preparing detailed and easy-to-understand examples. Using the STAR method, practice giving examples of your work which demonstrate context appropriate to the role when answering questions that begin with ‘Describe a time when’, ‘Can you tell us about’ and ‘Give an example of when’.
Step 5: Be prepared to ask questions
At the end of the interview, you may have an opportunity to ask questions. Your questions should demonstrate your interest in the role and provide an opportunity to check if the company is the right fit for you. Some examples include:
- What personal qualities are the most important for succeeding here?
- How would you describe your organisation’s culture?
- What do you find most challenging about working for this organisation?
So, to sum it all up – prepare and practise, practise, practise!
For more information on preparing to succeed at interview, have a look at the Interview Workbook or take the Getting a Job Challenge online.
Best of luck in your job search.
This article was written by Career Development Consultant, Carol Erkes.
