10 Student Tips to Ace a Job Interview
From that dream grad job to master’s funding, we all have to go through job interviews. Assistant Director in Marketing, Rhian gives her industry insight on how to ace your interview.
1. Dress to impress
I would always opt for a suit if possible, and the best quality you can afford! Remember, you need the panel to think this is the most important meeting of your career to date so turning up looking anything other than immaculate is a disaster. Suits are expensive, but it’s a worthwhile investment — could you ask for one for your birthday or Christmas?
Explain: 1) what happened? 2) what you did? and 3) what the impact was? Ensure you talk about ‘I did this’ and ‘me’, not ‘we’ or ‘the team’.
You’ve got to remember that people judge incredibly quickly and making the very best impression the very first second you step inside their office is absolutely crucial. Always ensure shoes are polished, and think about what you need to carry any documents in; scrap pieces of paper with folded edges are a real no-no.
2. First Impressions really do count
Think about how you come across from the moment you arrive at your potential employer’s offices. Nearly mowing down a member of the department in the car park because you are in a hurry isn’t the best start! Be aware that often the colleagues asked to ‘meet & greet’ are asked their opinion afterwards so be the best possible version of you and treat everyone with the same respect.
3. Know the rules
As a general rule, an interview panel wants to establish three things:
1) If you can do the job. (So have you got the right skills and experience? This is usually determined at the application form shortlisting stage.)
2) Will you do the job ? (This is about motivation and commitment.)
3) If you’ll fit in. (This is about team work, attitude, behaviour, and demeanour.)
4. Don’t rush your answers!
If the interview is scheduled for an hour, this is how long the panel are expecting it to last. Equally, don’t rattle on for hours — keep an eye on the panel’s body language. If they start shuffling in their seats you might need to shorten your answers.
5. Don’t diss the format or the company
If given an exercise or presentation to prepare, don’t criticise what you’ve been asked to do… Usually someone on the panel has devised it. If you’ve been given a set time — stick to the time! Yes, it might be hard to fit in everything you want to say in 5 mins, but that’s exactly what you are being tested on — can you distill the bigger picture into a few salient points?
Similarly, don’t criticise what the organisation is currently doing unless very specifically asked to. You might have some very valid views about potential improvements that should be made, but now is not the time; wait until you’ve got the job to start making a difference.
6. Presentation Prep Time
If you are given a presentation to prepare, don’t spend all your time preparing it and no time preparing potential answers. It is very likely the answers to questions will carry more weight than just the presentation.
7. Prepare, prepare, and prepare some more!
You will almost always be asked a variation of ‘What skills can you bring to the job?’ or ‘Why do you want the job?’… It isn’t difficult to prepare for this beforehand, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t! You can think about likely questions if you look at the job description.
Prepare some examples in advance of the things you are most proud of, what you have done particularly well, and be prepared to talk about them. Explain: 1) what happened? 2) what you did? and 3) what the impact was? Ensure you talk about ‘I did this’ and ‘me’, not ‘we’ or ‘the team’.
8. Establish your USPs (unique selling points)
Think of three key messages you need to get across in your interview, and what examples you have to back them up. What makes you the best person for the job over and above the next person? Match your skills to the job description and concentrate on your three USPs (any more and you’re likely to forget).
Walk around saying your USPs out loud; practice how it sounds as the words roll off your tongue. Remember, your job is to provide your USPs at every available opportunity so you can prepare your answers in advance. In the words of Henry Kissinger “Does anyone have any questions for my answers?”
9. Think very carefully about what questions to ask at the end
DO ask about how the role fits into the future direction of company, or what are the key priorities for the successful candidate in the first three months. However, DO NOT ask about your first pay rise or how much holiday you get. There is a time and place for those questions, you can follow up post-interview or even when they offer you the role.
10. Lastly, you can only be yourself…the best version of yourself!
Remember that an interview is also about you deciding if you want to work for an organisation or the people on the panel. I think some panel members forget that!
