5 Practical Actions To Improve Your Job Interview Performance
Job interviews or several rounds of job interviews are part and parcel of landing your next job.
While some seem to find job interviews a breeze, the majority tend to find it a bit of struggle. Some even find the whole process daunting.
So what practical actions can you take to improve your job interview performance?
Action 1: Prepare like a pro
People tell me that they get nervous in interviews. Everyone does to some extent.
Others say that they lack confidence.
In reality both these outcomes are a consequence of the amount and quality of the preparation that people do.
Sadly few do anything like enough preparation. In fact based on my own informal research, only about 12% of people do anything like enough preparation.
For me those who prepare like a pro spend at least 10 hours on their preparation.
How about you?
Action 2: Review the job advert, job description and person specification meticulously
It’s full of clues about the role, what’s important in terms of the successful candidate.
Equally it gives you lots of clues about the type of questions that you are likely to be asked.
As a result you are less likely to get caught out in the interview.
Action 3: Write out potential questions and answers
Is this a lot of work? It is.
On the other hand it will help you to better handle whatever questions you are faced with in the real interview.
Action 4: Change your perspective
The interview is about you deciding if the role is right for you as it is the employer deciding if you are the best candidate.
If you go into the job interview with this perspective it reduced the pressure on you.
And if the pressure is reduced you are more likely to show your true potential.
Action 5: Make the initial minutes count
It’s sad but true that many hiring managers (especially the less experienced) make a decision about someone’s suitability in the first few minutes.
For that reason you need to make sure that you make those initial few minutes count.
Build rapport and make sure you have great answers for all those opening type questions you are likely to be asked.
The Bottom Line: Job interviews are both a challenge and an opportunity. Making small changes can deliver big benefits.
So what are you going to do differently ahead of your next job interview?
About the Author Duncan Brodie
Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.