Interview Tips

How to impress when it counts!

Congratulations, you’ve landed the interview. It might not seem like it but you you’ve already successfully passed through several stages of the recruitment process; your CV has been assessed and deemed a good match, you’ve passed the telephone interview and now the company are keen to meet with you. There’s  just one more obstacle between you and your dream role, and that’s the interview. But interviews need not be feared, prepare well and you’ll feel cool, calm and collected to your potential employer. 

Preparation

The importance of preparation cannot be underestimated. The more prepared you are, the more confident you’ll feel in the interview, and your ability to fluently answer questions, drawing on your knowledge and skills will be enhanced.

  • Know who, when and where you are meeting. It always helps to look up the location beforehand, either with a visit if you have the time or by checking streetview on googlemaps to make sure it is where it says it is on the satnav. Know where you can park and whether you will need coins for the parking machine in advance.
  • Research the company thoroughly. Study their website to familiarise yourself with the company’s services, history, values and size. Know who their direct competitors are. When interviewing at a regulated care provider, checking their CQC page is a MUST.
  • Read the job description or advert provided. As a recruiter, I find myself telling candidates to read the job description and person spec but not to take it as gospel. Usually written by HR it’s normally quite a comprehensive list of requirements, that in reality not a single candidate will be able to tick all boxes. The interviewer/hiring manager usually knows exactly what they are looking for and are best at giving you a more insightful view into the role.
  • Think about the type of questions you might get asked in an interview and prepare your answers.

These might include;

  • Why are you looking for a new role?
  • What do you know about the company?
  • What is it about this role/company that appeals to you?
  • What drives you?
  • How would you describe your management style?
  • What are your biggest successes or failures?

 

Beautiful,Female,Employee,In,Suit,Is,Smiling,During,The,Job

How to make a good first impression

  • Dress appropriately, in a professional looking outfit. If you are unsure, it’s always best to be over-dressed than under-dressed.
  • The first impression you will usually make, is to the first person you meet as you walk in the door, usually the receptionist. Be sure to be friendly and smile confidently as you introduce yourself. If you are sat waiting in reception it’s a great opportunity to ask a couple of questions but don’t bombard them, keep it relaxed such as ‘how long have you worked here’ or ‘how’s your day going’. Many an interviewer will ask the receptionist if the candidates were polite and courteous to all they encountered during their time in the building, and not just those that they were trying to impress.   
  • Avoid being late, not only does it not make a great impression, but you run the risk of turning up looking flustered and stressed

Building Rapport with your interviewer

 

  • Listen carefully to what your interviewer is asking. Make sure that you answer their question and don’t go off on a tangent. Keeping your answers concise and to the point allows you to demonstrate your knowledge or skills in relation to the interviewer’s question, and importantly allows them to move onto the next question. If your still on the answer to question 1 twenty minutes into the interview, it’s likely that the interview will finish without the interview getting through all the questions they’d want to ask!
  • Pick up on anything they might say that you can refer back to later in the interview, it demonstrates that you are an effective listener. For example, ‘you mentioned earlier that you’ve worked your way up within the company from Registered Manager to Care Director, can you tell me a bit more about the training and development opportunities within the company’
  • Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through

Ask insightful questions

Asking questions shows that you are thinking forward and serious about up the job. Ask insightful questions such as what the progression opportunities are, how success is measured and if they have any future growth plans rather than what time you might be able to clock off on a Friday.

End on a positive note

Thank them for their time and tell them that you enjoyed meeting them. Don’t be afraid to find out what the next steps are and ask when you can expect to hear back.

Don't sweat the small stuff

 

Finally, don’t give yourself a hard time when you come out of the interview. It’s easier said than done, but almost everyone has walked out of an interview wondering if they could have answered a question or two differently.

Ultimately, if you’ve researched sufficiently, practised interview questions, delivered your answers concisely, you’ve done your best and hopefully it will land you your dream role.  

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