Have you been invited to an interview? Congratulations! Then you may need some tips on how to conduct a good interview. Maybe you have never had an interview before or have not been on an interview for a while? Maybe you have been to an interview but have not been progressed in the process and wondered what you could have done better? We have listed some effective and applicable tips that we hope can help you conduct a really good interview.
Research and prepare
Before an interview, it is often nerve-wracking, and it can therefore be a good idea to prepare by reading about the company and prepare answers about your past qualifications. A good basis for your preparation is to research the job ad. It states what tasks the role contains, what knowledge and experience is required and what personal characteristics are desired. With that in mind, you can prepare experiences that match the role. It is also good if you read about the company and what it is like to work there. It can help you answer what you would bring to the company if you got the job.
First impression
You may already be nervous before the interview, so avoid unnecessary time pressure and go to the place of the interview well in advance. Make sure to arrive on time! A late arrival does not give a good first impression but presuming you would be late then call to announce it and then apologize when you meet the interviewer. Make sure you know the name of the person you are going to meet and then greet you with a steady handshake while you make eye contact.
Attire
Try to match your attire to the dress code of the company you are going to interview at. If you do not know the dress code, it is better to be a little overdressed than the other way around. It signals that you are serious and take the interview seriously. But of course, it is important that you feel comfortable in the clothes you choose to wear. Also, make sure you take off your outerwear and any headgear. If you keep it on it will leave a stressed impression.
Relax
The recruiter knows that it can be a little nervous to be interviewed. Nervousness only shows that you take the interview seriously and that you want the recruiter to get a good impression of you. Take your time to answer the recruiter’s questions. If you give an answer that you think is strange or if you cannot provide an answer that you are satisfied with, relax and try again. It is totally okay to make mistakes.
How to answer interview questions
• Be concrete and straight in your answers. Talking around thinks too much can be perceived as uncertainty and the recruiter may have difficulty interpreting whether you have certain qualifications or not. You can preferably respond with concrete examples from your past experience.
• Emphasize your strengths but also be humble with what you need to develop.
• Think before answering. A moment’s silence can in many cases be better than giving an inconsiderate answer. That you can handle silence also shows that you feel in control of the situation, which shows self-confidence.
Ask questions
Be sure to read about the company and ask questions. You may have prepared some questions before coming to the interview or ask something you would like to know more about that was raised during the interview. Even if you already know the answers to some questions – ask them anyway. If the recruiter feels that you have done some research, your entire interview will have a more professional impression.
End of the interview
At the end of the interview, you can ask what the recruitment process looks like. It gives you a time frame for when you can expect an answer and you know what the next steps may be.
Good luck!