Tips for the perfect interview

The interview itself
4. Pen and pad
You should always take a pen and a pad with you to an interview. This shows your interest and professionalism.
5. Your work
When talking through your work, make sure you clearly explain what part you have played in each project. Some people take a laptop, some take a USB stick, some take a printed portfolio and some use the agency’s computers. Make sure you talk positively about your work and let the interviewer know about deadlines and what you have learnt.
6. Self-PR
This is your chance to sell yourself to the best of your ability. Some people are good at it and some aren’t. If you aren’t, let other achievements do the talking for you. If you have certificates that show off your strengths, take them with you.
7. Ask the right questions
Interviews can be a strange place for many people and the time can pass very quickly, so it’s important you make the most of your time. Types of questions to ask can be:
What accounts would I be working on?
What are the plans for the agency for the next five years?
Where do you see me fitting in with the current structure?
What do you think I will find difficult here?
Who will I be working with?
The answers you get from these questions will give you a good idea of how the interview is going.
8. Money
I tell my candidates not to talk about salaries in interviews. If the interviewer puts you in a corner regarding money, the best way to deal with it is by saying, “I am here to find out more about the opportunity, please speak to my consultant about money.” It’s the job of the recruitment consultant to negotiate on your behalf and get you what you’re looking for.
9. Current workplace
If you are currently in a permanent job and have a notice period, make this clear in your interview. If asked why you are looking to leave your current role, don’t bad-mouth anyone or anything about work as this can put many people off.
10. Get closure
If you think the interview has gone well and it’s a place you can see yourself working at, don’t be afraid to tell them that. If there is great chemistry between you and the interviewer, then you might want to ask them what the next steps are.

Post-interview analysis
11. Feedback
If you have gone through a recruitment agency, then call them as soon as you leave the interview. This timing will increase the speed of the feedback process. As a consultant, I know my client will call me within an hour after the interview has finished, and they will be expecting your feedback.

A typical interview normally lasts one hour, so plan your time well. Generally, the first quarter of an hour are spent with you talking about your current role and portfolio, and the next 15 minutes are the interviewer talking about the agency and their portfolio. The next quarter of an hour is a time for questions and the last 15 minutes are spent looking around the office and getting closure on the interview.

I hope this helps in your quest to find your dream job. If you would like to ask more questions about interviewing, then please contact me.

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