One of the most important skills in the job search process is your interview skills.
Interview preparation
It’s a great art to interview successfully and practice will make perfect.
Interview preparation
- Reread the job specifications and your application/CV. Is this really the job you are aiming for. If it is and you are clear about the role then start your detailed preparations now:
- What questions will you ask at interview?
- How will you find out about the company culture before interview?
- Who will you be in contact with? Which questions will you ask?
- Can you discover what format the interview will take?
- Is it going to be a one:one, a panel interview, an assessment and interview day or simply an online screening interview?
- Have you prepared your PAR stories [STAR stories] and do they relate to the job specification?
- How will you answer competency or behavioural questions?
- Tell me when you worked as a part of a team. What was your role? How did you contribute to the success of the team? What was the outcome?
To gain a competitive advantage over other candidates there are three key strategies that will make you a strong candidate.
1. Personal value proposition 2. Engaging PAR stories and 3. Your professional approach.
At interview you will need to address the question “Why do you want this job?”
- Your value added proposition needs to marry your skills and experience with the role you are applying for and demonstrate that you have the knowledge and expertise to perform. You can also demonstrate your understanding of the business culture, values and how customers are treated.
- Your PAR stories need to be up-to-date, robust and relevant. Think about the problems you have faced, the actions you took and the results.
- At interview, you need to be confident and business-like. You will want to build rapport with your interviewer and sell your skills as effectively as you would as if you were a salesperson looking for a sale.
Every answer you give at interview should relate to the job you are applying for and give relevant responses to the questions asked that demonstrate the value you will add once you are in post and how well you will fit into the organisation.
To differentiate yourself from other candidates you must prepare some strategic questions to ask at interview. The significance of these questions will show you have prepared well for the interview, done your research and that you are an excellent candidate.
You can beat the competition.
Lynn is a qualified career management and job hunting professional with over 20 years’ experience and also holds Level A & B Practitioner certificates for ability and vocational testing with the British Psychological Society. , Lynn is able to use a wide number of leading edge psychometric tools including 4G, Wave, OPQ, Hogan, SHL, 16PF5, MBTI, Profiling for Success, WGCTA, RANRA to support informed decisions for career transition, professional and personal effectiveness. Highly experienced in providing 1:1 coaching and support to professionals facing redundancy / career transition / seeking employment.
Lynn’s journey into career development came about after managing her own redundancy and embarking on completing a PgDip in Adult Guidance and Assessment alongside a career counselling diploma and her CIPD qualifications. She has worked in corporate environments, as an associate with top management consultancies and independently. At all times she is client focused and enjoys watching her clients realise their career paths and achieve their goals.
Lynn is a member of the Career Development Institute (CDI) and a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and committed to her own personal professional development. She adheres to high level of ethical standards.
Lynn is the author of Get That Job and Can’t Get That Job.
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