The most effective interview advice

(With thanks to Mike Johnson of JohnsonBIM for his knowledge)

Over 30 years and thousands of interviews I have experienced pretty much every variation of good and bad imaginable. I have researched hundreds of articles and, allegedly, best advice, but in my experience, 3 factors stand out more than most.

The first, like-ability is probably the most important.  Well over 80% of interviews go in favour of the person employers like the most – quite often this is NOT the candidate who seems to be the closest match to the job description. So, how do you nail your interview?

I hope you find the following tips helpful. Trust me, they work!

 

1: LIKE-ABILITY

Although you may have the academic achievements and work experience, like-ability is more important.

• What do you genuinely like about the company?  Let it be known!
• Chat about a non-related job topic that you and the interviewer find interesting;
• Be interested in the interviewer and their task – what type of person are they looking for and how does the position fit in the overall organisation?
• Be enthusiastic about the position and the organisation;
• Smile and maintain eye contact!

Some of these points above can also be emphasised by asking the interviewer the right questions – see our recommended 5 questions to ask here

 

2: CREDIBILITY

• If you do have a weakness, give your credibility a boost and discuss early;
• For your positive aspects, modesty is vital.   Always try to retain your strongest attributes until the end of the interview.

 

3: MISTAKES HAPPEN

If you make what seems like a major mistake, don’t over-react. The chances are that it is far more noticeable to you than to others, and an excessive response or apologising could just draw more attention. Instead, acknowledge if appropriate, and continue as if nothing had happened.