Below is an interview checklist to run through before your next interview.
- Know your CV and research the company
Know your CV inside out. Take a copy of the CV you sent to apply for the job and a copy of the job description and can identify relevant examples from your experience that mirror the responsibilities of the role. Then research the company. Looking at their website is an absolute minimum. Why not go the extra mile and read any trade press about the company and their competitors to give you the edge over your competition.
2. Dress the part
If you are interviewing at a media company, turning up in a three piece suit will make you look and feel out of place. Wear what you’d wear if you were already in the role attending an important meeting.
- Arrive 10 minutes early
This will give you enough time to have a glass of water, register your arrival and centre yourself. It also gives you the chance to get a feel for the place and see whether you like the “vibe” of the place. Do the employees seem happy? Is this somewhere you could see yourself working?
- Ask 3 questions at the end of the interview
The questions you ask show the interviewer what you are thinking and gives an indication of what particularly interests you in relation to your career with the company. You can make a statement about what you know about the business and or marketplace and then frame the question around that.
- The interview is a 2 way process
People often forget that it’s as important for you to like the people you meet at the interview as it is for them to like you. Remember, these are the people you are likely to be working with if you’re successful so you need to be able to imagine yourself working with them. If you can’t, maybe it isn’t the right role for you.
