HR Interview Advice

"You're Hired!" - How to give your best at interview

As Alan Sugar's Apprentice showed us, job interviews are no piece of cake these days. Thankfully, your average HR interview won't involve running round the streets of Camden selling old skeletons, mixing up perfumes or creating 500 corporate canapés from a couple of old tomatoes and a bread roll.
 
But, we all know that competition for jobs is even fiercer than before. When we present 5 candidates that are top drawer on paper, the interview is even more crucial now in assessing who's the best for the job. So how can you stand out from the crowd? What should you keep in mind during interview to ensure that you're hired?

Be prepared

Do your research. Make sure you know about the company you're interviewing with, who's interviewing you, and what their job title is. Where does the company sit in the marketplace? Who are their competitors? Don't try and wing it - have some stats and facts to hand.

In this technological age, there's no excuse for not doing your research before you go in. Utilise tools that are available to you - Linked In, the net, the company website, your feet. Go to the venue and do a trial run, so it's one less thing to worry about. Plan to arrive 10 - 15 minutes early, so you've got time to gather your thoughts.
 
One of our clients starts all his interviews by asking, "What's the square route of a thousand?" Not something you'd expect from your average HR interview! If you're faced with something random, don't be put off by it. After all, the interviewer is probably trying to make you relax.

Be prepared for anything and everything. You might go in expecting an informal chat, and be faced with a long list of competency questions.

Your personal brand

Personal impact - it's established as soon as you step into a room, so get it right - there are no second chances. Your CV has worked hard to get you this far, so follow up with great personal impact.

Look the part. Tight, wrinkled, creased, stained, scuffed, old or fun items of clothing are a no no. Strive for fitting, ironed, pressed, clean, new, polished, conservative and comfortable.

Your outfit's sorted - what about the rest? Make sure your hair's freshly washed and in an appropriate style (the mullet, wet perm and bouffant all went out years ago). If you're prone to dandruff, check your suit before you go in - having a snowstorm on your shoulders hardly screams 'professional' and 'attentive to detail'.

Excellent communication skills help you deliver great personal impact. You need to impact on the interviewer by stirring up their emotions like no other candidate before you.  We're not talking Paul McKenna tricks here, but you want them to be sufficiently compelled to hire you!

Your non verbals

It's not just the answers you give that your interviewer will be assessing, it'll be the way you deliver them, and the way you conduct yourself too.

Your eye contact: Your eyes often speak louder than the words you're saying. Maintain eye contact, but try not to go for the: intense 'axe murderer' eyes, the 'vacant teenager' eyes, the 'sultry' eyes (best reserve this one for Saturday night in the pub). Any of these might just put your interviewer off! Be relaxed, sincere and continuous - it needs to be natural. Practice with a friend if you need to.

Your gestures: Don't wave your arms or gesture wildly to emphasise your speech. As well as looking like an utter drama queen, too many gestures may negate the importance of what youre saying...dahling.

Your posture: Make sure your posture collaborates what you're saying. Don't slouch or fidget. You're interested in the job; you're focused on the interviewer. But remember, you're not re-enacting a Mills and Boon novel so there's no need for leaning in. Remember personal space - for both you and your interviewer - is important too.

Smile! Show your interviewer that you're friendly and approachable.

Your verbals

What do you want? Where do you see yourself fitting into the organisation? Be clear and focused - if you're too vague or placid you might come across as having a lack of direction. But don't confuse focus with arrogance or desperation!

Questions about your current job and reasons for leaving are bound to come up. Be open and honest but avoid being negative about your current employer.

Avoid using bad language or slang (even if your interviewer does it). Don't pepper your sentences with 'erm' and 'uh' - you show lack of focus. Don't be afraid of silences! If you're tactical with your pauses, you will show confidence and authority.

Don't answer questions with one word. Explain your answers - this is a chance to demonstrate your skills and ability. But don't waffle for the sake of it. Develop a lyricism within your speech to keep the interviewer engaged. Answer the question that's been asked; dont try and trot out something you prepared earlier. 

Don't mention your personal life. Your interviewer doesn't want to hear about the row you had with your wife last night (yes, one of our candidates went into an interview and opened with exactly that). Detach yourself from what's happening elsewhere in your life. If something happens and you think it will affect your performance, then cancel the interview.

The little things that get you noticed

We know you need to dress smart, hold your posture and answer in a clear and concise manner. But those additional things might just be what it takes to sway your interviewer's decision.

You're on show as soon as you walk in - you don't know who is watching you. Remember, the receptionist might go dancing with your interviewer on a Friday night.

Take a couple of copies of your CV with you - even a skills sheet, so you can leave it if necessary. You might think you're 'being green' by re-using your Tesco carriers, but splash out on a nice folder to take your documents in - it gives a much better impression, and the paper won't get crumpled.

Ask for your interviewer's business card at the end of the interview - this shows thoughtfulness and interest. Make sure to take it with you though!

Listen, listen, LISTEN!

Listen to your interviewer and to yourself. Don't just say the first thing that comes into your head. One candidate, when interviewing with a high street retailer, was asked what they thought of the brand. "Well I like your brand but I wouldnt shop in one of your stores" was the answer. Needless to say, they didn't get the job.

Don't try and second guess what your interviewer's asking. When asked what he liked most about work, one candidate replied, "I love everything about Manchester United." Need we say more?

Remember, your interviewer's human and they understand that you are, too. So if you make a blunder, take a deep breath and begin again. Acknowledge that you've made a mistake; "That wasn't a good answer, what I meant to say was..."

How did I do?

Don't try and close the interview by asking for feedback. Even if you've got great vibes from your interviewer, it's just not professional.

Let your interviewer close the interview and end with something positive such as, "I have really enjoyed our meeting today; thanks for taking the time to meet with me" or "Is there anything else you need to know from me at this stage?"

If they invite questions from you, ALWAYS have some! Be creative - show interest with your questions and be curious. Never say you don't have any questions.

It's crunch time...sell yourself!

Remember - an interview is a time to sell yourself. You need to get the interviewer to buy into your brand, by convincing them that you can do the job, you will do the job well, and you're a great culture fit.

Expect the unexpected; be prepared for anything; convey comfort at all times. Rarely will you get to interview stage if you're not potentially right for the role, so take confidence from that.  The interview is an opportunity to really demonstrate your worth, fit and ability. Take a deep breath and go for it!

Oh, and the square route of a thousand? 31.62 of course.

Ruth Blair, Consultant

For further tips on how to standout at interview, see our article What Not To Wear To Interview and our Interview Advice section.