Thoroughly read the business website. Find out about the company, its history, facts and figures, teams, type of clients, divisions and roles that they have.

Read the position description fully. Understand all elements of the role and where it fits in the business.

Make a note of any questions that arise from your research. They will come in handy later…

Extra mile tip: 

Don’t stop at the website. Google the business, look at social media and any connections you may have with employees there. Is there anything else out there of interest?

Extra mile tip:

Don’t stop at the company! Google the interviewer. Research their background and how they got to where they are (LinkedIn is obviously a great source for this).

Be on time. Plan your journey. Arrive in plenty of time. 

Set a good first impression. A solid handshake, confident demeanor and good eye contact are key. 

Dress to impress. It is always best to be on the side of formal. Polish your shoes, get a haircut, make sure you’ve showered! Remove visible piercings. Take off your hat.

Switch OFF your mobile and keep it in your pocket during the interview. Being on silent is not enough!

Know your CV, your gaps and reasons for leaving jobs. Make sure you know your personal facts and figures (achievements, dates etc). This is especially important if you have sales experience. What were your targets? What was your performance? How did you perform against your peers?

Think about body language.

Take a copy of your CV with you to refer to if needed.

Don’t lie, chew gum, ramble, swear, be negative.

These include…

Tell me a bit about you.

What are your unique selling points?

Where do you see yourself in five years?

What targets did you have in your last role and how did you perform against them?

What can you tell us about our company?

Why do you want to work for us?

What are your strengths/weaknesses? 

What motivates you?

How would your last manager describe you?

When have you demonstrated the skills required for the role? How can you sell yourself? Self-Analysis prior to the interview will help you. Think about the kind of skills a recruiter/hiring manager might look for and how you can demonstrate them. A typical question will start with “Give me an example of time when you have shown exceptional…” Typical skills and qualities you may be asked about include:

Drive

Resilience

Persistence

Initiative

Organisation

Relationship skills

Management experience

Communication

Overcoming challenges

Multi-tasking

Questions demonstrate your enthusiasm. Remember, this interview is as much for you as it is for the interviewer. It’s a good idea to write down a list of questions in a pad/folder for you to refer to at the end of the interview. Try not to ask anything that you could have found online. 

Some great examples:

What do you like most about working here?

How will success be measured in this role?

Who do you consider to be your top competitor and why?

What training do you offer?

How could I progress in the company?

What are the company’s plans for future growth?

What is the biggest challenge the company is facing at the moment? 

Thank the interviewer for their time and remember to close for the next stage.

If I was to be successful, are there any areas that you think I could work on?

How have I performed against other candidates and if I was successful, what would the next stage be?

When could I expect to hear from you and what would the next stage be?

What doubts do you have about my suitability for the role at this stage?