Interview Tips

You only get one chance to make a good first impression. Don’t blow it. Today’s job market is extremely competitive. Make sure you do everything you can to stand out from the crowd.

Pre interview preparation

Before you start, write down a list of relevant things that you want to know about the company. Don’t just gather info for the sake of it. Think about what your really want to know. Things like, what they do, how the do it, how big they are, where they are going etc.

Having a look at the company’s website just doesn’t cut it these days. You need to do more work if you want to stand out from the crowd. Anyone can look at a website. This should be your starting point not the sum of all your preparation.

Speak to, and where possible, visit the company’s customers. What do they think of the company and their products? What issues do they face? What do they like and dislike about the company?

Speak to another person within the company who does a similar role. Such as a salesperson for another geographical area. Be honest.

Tell them who you are and why you are calling. You’ll be surprised at how helpful people can be and if you’re lucky, this will get back to the person doing the interview, earning you brownie points before you’ve even got there…

How do they find the job? What are the challenges? Customers? Day-to-day routine? What tips can they give you for your interview?

Call the company’s office and get literature. A lot of interviewers still look for this and it creates a good impression if you walk in with a brochure under your arm.

Plan. Based on what you know about the company so far, what would you do in the first few months to be a success? Jot down some thoughts and offer to leave this with the interviewer at the end.

On the day

Being too early is nearly as bad as being too late. If you misjudge it, sit in the car for a while.

Nervous? Don’t dwell on it by trying to find ways to calm your nerves. Accept it and move on. You’ll soon forget that you were nervous in the first place.

Have a last minute check to see if your phone’s switched off.

How would you greet a potential customer? Slouched, in a reception chair with a coffee in hand, or upstanding and ready to greet them?

No one wants to have their bones broken when they shake your hand but don’t be limp-wristed either.

Don’t mark your territory by throwing down car keys or anything else on the desk. The only thing that should be on there is a page for you to take notes or any information you’ve brought with you.

Don’t take over the interview. Let the interviewer ask the questions they need to and elaborate when asked.

Don’t ramble and don’t bore with irrelevant answers. If you don’t know the answer to a question, say so. Don’t start making things up and don’t try to be too accurate with your answers if you can’t remember exact details. Better to deliver a rough, snappy answer than an accurate one that took ten minutes to come up with.

Build a rapport with the interviewer. They’re only human, same as you.

Examples of fact-finding, pre-close and close

Candidate: “I’m very interested in this position, what’s the next stage in the recruitment process”
Client: “We’re planning on doing 2nd interviews next week”
Candidate: “Excellent. How do you feel I have done today?”
_{NOTE: If the client has concerns, now is your chance to rebuttal them. If not CLOSE!}

CLOSE: “Great, what concerns would you have about calling me back for second interview?”
CLOSE: “Are you happy to take me forward to the next stage”
CLOSE: “When will I be meeting you again for the next interview?”

These are all examples of suitable closes. NOTE: Asking when you can expect to hear from them is NOT A CLOSE!

Don’t trap them in a corner and demand they hire you, but don’t walk out of the meeting clueless either. What concerns do they have? Are they happy to take you to the next interview stage? What is the next stage? When?

Even if you don’t get the answer that you were looking for, you will have demonstrated that you are a sales person who isn’t scared of asking for the order.

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