Kate Crowhurst
Bite-Sized Read:
- If you manage to get an interview, make this opportunity count with our Money do’s and don’ts.
- Do know why you want the job, practice your answers, and use the STAR model.
- Don’t forget to research the organisation you’re interviewing with and make you ask them questions to work out if you want to work for them.
You’ve got to the interview stage!
Firstly, a huge congratulations! Many people don’t make it past the application stage.
A job interview is a huge opportunity.
This is your time to shine. That interview is a window of time to show your future employer why they should hire you. That means you need to make the interview count.
Here’s the Money do’s and don’ts for how to ace your next interview:
1. DO know why you want the job
Be clear on your motivation. Your future employer may ask you the question outright. Have an answer prepared and ready to go.
2. DON’T forget who you’re interviewing with
The biggest turnoff as an employer is when people don’t know about my organisation. Take the time to research the organisation you’re interviewing with. Know the basics including what the organisation does, its future goals, and how the job you want helps achieve that.
3. DO practice answering questions
If you haven’t interviewed in a while or ever, this is a must. Recruit a friend or family member to ask you some questions and practice answering them. This mock interview set-up will help you feel comfortable before the real thing. Some questions to get you started include: ‘What is a time when you demonstrated leadership?’ and the classic question, ‘Tell us about yourself?’.
4. DON’T forget the position description
A position description is created by an employer to tell you who they want to hire. If you want the job, make sure you look at the position description for key information on who they’re looking for. That way you can explain in the interview how you’re the one that they want and yes, it is you they’re looking for.
5. DO plan your outfit beforehand
There is nothing worse than being in an interview in an outfit that doesn’t fit properly. Make sure you feel comfortable in what you’re wearing by planning your outfit beforehand. That way you can focus on meeting your potential future employer and having a quality conversation with them, rather than worrying about what you’ll wear to it.
6. DON’T be late for the interview
A good impression is important. Make sure you turn up on time or slightly early to the interview by planning out your day in advance. If you’re going into a physical workplace, make travel plans for how to get there. If you’re doing a zoom interview, set up your computer in a quiet space and make sure people at home know to be quiet.
7. DO use the STAR model
If you waffle during interviews, the STAR model could be the solution. You would answer interview questions by outlining the Situation, Task, Action, and Result. That’s what the Situation was, the Task you needed to accomplish, the Action you took, and the Result that you achieved.
8. DON’T ask your potential employer zero questions
Your employer wants to know if they should hire you. But you also have the opportunity in an interview to assess whether you want to work for them. Most interviews end with the question, ‘Do you have any questions for you’. Think of a response beforehand so that you use the time available.
9. DO be polite to everyone you meet
I have made hiring decisions in part due to how an interviewee treated the person with the least power in the room. Be a professional by treating everyone you meet with respect, regardless of their position.
10. DON’T forget to say thank you
At the end of the interview, thank your interviewers for their time. Businesses take time out of their day to meet with you. Acknowledging this with a simple thank you in the interview or afterwards is always appreciated.
Don’t forget that every job interview is an opportunity.
You have time in front of an employer to make a good impression. Make this time count and consider our Money Do’s and Don’ts to ace your next job interview.
