How to be the best version of yourself at interview

 22nd Apr 2019

They’re never fun, and for a lot of people they never get easier. But if you feel as though you’ve shown your best self in the interview, at least if you don’t get the role you’ll know it was for a good reason, either because the role, level, or the culture fit wasn’t right for you. There’s nothing more frustrating than not getting a job because you didn’t perform the best you could in an interview, so here is some advice to help.

Preparation goes a long way:

Research the company and if you’re working with a recruiter ask questions about the culture. This will help you identify with your prospective employer as a potential future member of the team.

Also, while you want to sound candid and not rehearsed, it’s a good idea to prepare a few bullet points to answer possible interview questions such as:

•  "What is your personal definition of success?"
• "What is it about this position that excites you the most?"
• “Tell me about a challenge or conflict you've faced at work, and how you dealt with it.”

Plan your journey:

The last thing you want is to get lost on your way to an interview. Buy train or bus tickets in advance, or if you’re driving look into finding somewhere to park.

Don’t panic if you go blank for a second:

Instead of stumbling through pieces of an answer, just ask for a minute to collect your thoughts or to recall a past example. If you don’t understand something the interviewer mentions, ask them to elaborate. This will make you seem more in control and shows that you are confident enough to ask questions if you’re not sure on something.

Dress for comfort:

Not every company expects you to come in a three-piece, if you’re using a recruiter ask for their advice on company dress code or check to see whether you have been emailed an advised dress code as part of your interview preparation. If you’re comfortable in what you’re wearing, you’ll feel more relaxed and will be able to act more naturally.

Read the job advert side by side with your CV

See how your credentials match up to what they say they’re looking for, then emphasise on these in the interview.

Try to consider it a chat rather than an interview

If you see an interview as a test, unsurprisingly you’ll feel on edge. It can feel disarming when an interviewer makes every question sound formal and structured. even if you know the answer. Try to keep your questions and answers open ended so as not to kill the dialogue, then the conversation will flow more naturally and the interviewer can ask their questions within conversation rather than as a series of interrogative bullet points.

An interview is just a discussion for the company to get to know you and you it. It’s easy to forget that they need to impress you too, so remember to ask questions you want to know the answer to, so you can decide if they’re a good fit for you too. Here are a few example questions:

•  “What’s your favourite part about working at the company?”
• “What does a normal day look like in this role?”
•  “Describe the culture of the company.”
•  “What are the biggest opportunities facing the company/department right now?”