the complete interview guide, Schemes and Mind Maps of Communication

Download the complete interview guide and more Schemes and Mind Maps Communication in PDF only on Docsity! Welcome The Complete Interview Guide | 1 THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW GUIDE HELPING YOU LAND THE PERFECT ROLE CONTENTS 02 Welcome 03 Prepare to be the best you How to prepare The day of the interview 09 Make a strong start How to maximise the first five minutes of an interview 15 Know your interview questions Common interview questions Tell a powerful story 23 Avoid common interview mistakes Top six mistakes to avoid 29 Thrive in all conditions Making that Skype interview count Understand your interviewer Overcoming unconscious bias 35 Contact Us Welcome 1 | The Complete Interview Guide We see it all the time – great candidates being passed over because they didn’t prepare for an interview properly. Even if you don’t have the full skill set you can still land the job by being well prepared and enthusiastic. “ “ Prepare to be the best you The Complete Interview Guide | 4 RESEARCH The first thing to do is visit the company’s website and social channels. Make sure you read the home page, about us and services/products sections and note down the key points you learn about the company including its history, vision and mission. Then move on to a web search of the company to find out if it’s been in the news lately. This will ensure you come across as informed and up-to-date with topical issues. It’s also a good idea to know who its competitors are and what differentiates them from other businesses in their field. LEARN Learn your CV off by heart so that you can talk naturally and fluently about your employment history and key achievements. Spend some time mapping out how your skills and experience match the job description. You want to make it easy for the interviewer to see how you’re a great fit for the role. It’s also wise to research your current and previous employers online so you can answer questions confidently. PRACTICE Ask someone you trust to help you practice common interview questions and competency- based interview questions. Practising out loud will stop you from ‘rambling’ on the day and help you to communicate your thoughts clearly and succinctly. We cover interview questions later in the guide. DEVISE YOUR QUESTIONS Try to think of questions that will make you stand out from other interviewees. Interviewers tend to be impressed by candidates with an enthusiastic attitude and those who have gone the extra mile to prepare for the interview. HOW TO PREPARE The importance of preparation cannot be overstated. As well as boosting your confidence, it will help you to show the best you. Interviewers frequently test a candidate’s preparation to see how enthusiastic they are about the role and the company. Thorough preparation demonstrates to them that you’re serious about the job. For a fairly straightforward interview you should allow half a day’s preparation time, but for more senior roles which will require you to go deeper, it’s best to allocate a full day. Prepare to be the best you 5 | The Complete Interview Guide I always start by asking people to explain what our business does. This deceptively simple question floors lots of people – it’s amazing how many interviewees struggle with it, perhaps because they’re attending several interviews in a row and haven’t made the time to do much research. But if you don’t come across as having a firm grasp of the company and why it’s hiring, the interviewer can only conclude that you’re not really that bothered about the job. “Use your questions to demonstrate your preparation and insight. For example, if you’ve looked at some of their employees’ LinkedIn profiles and seen that people tend to get promoted every two to three years, then ask about that. While it’s a good idea to look at the interviewer’s LinkedIn profile, it’s important to ensure you don’t come across as ‘creepy’ by commenting on personal information you’ve gleaned – it’s best to keep it professional. Likewise, read the annual report and latest press releases. Look for things where you can make a link to the role and department you are hoping to join. For example, “I read that you’ve just launched x. What will that mean for the growth of this role?” Be creative and imaginative, and remember to avoid questions about pay and benefits in the first interview. These topics can be discussed once you’ve been offered the job. “ FAST FACTS • Go the extra mile with your research • Map out how your skills and experience match the job description • Do a mock interview with a friend or your recruiter • Prepare interesting questions to make yourself stand out Prepare to be the best you The Complete Interview Guide | 6 MAKE A STRONG START Make a strong start 9 | The Complete Interview Guide One candidate I interviewed recently asked me a non-stop string of questions about my family, the job, the company, things in the news – all sorts of things. But he didn’t really have much to say himself and he didn’t really wait to hear my answer before asking the next question, so he just came across as rather anxious and scattered. “ “ Make a strong start The Complete Interview Guide | 10 1. REMEMBER THE INTERVIEW STARTS AS SOON AS YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE The interview starts long before you shake hands and sit down around the table. You never know who you might bump into as you get off your bus or train, or enter the company’s building – for all you know, your interviewer could be in the same coffee bar queue as you. So make sure you project a friendly, confident, professional air from the moment you set off. Doubtless you’ll have made sure you arrive early. Give yourself time to have a comfort break and make sure you’re hydrated. Make conversation with the receptionist, switch off your phone and take in your surroundings – you might notice something that will make a useful small-talk topic later. Don’t try to cram in any last-minute facts – you want to come across as calm and organised, not flustered and under-prepared. 2. TREAT EVERYONE YOU MEET AS YOUR INTERVIEWER Make sure that you’re polite and friendly to everyone you come across in the interview process. From greeting the receptionist, to the people you share a lift with, to walking through an open-plan office to reach your meeting room – these are all touchpoints with your potential future employer. Co-workers will often share their impressions of visitors afterwards, so you want everyone who comes into contact with you to see you in as positive a light as possible. HOW TO MAXIMISE THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES OF AN INTERVIEW We’ve all heard it said that first impressions count and it’s especially true of job interviews. One third of bosses say they know within 90 seconds whether they will hire someone, so starting strong is a must. From the all important hand shake to making small talk and maintaining eye contact, there are so many things to be aware of in the first five minutes of an interview. Given these first few moments can have such a decisive impact on how well the rest of the interview goes, here’s how to start strong – together with some cautionary tales of what not to do from real interviewers. Make a strong start 11 | The Complete Interview Guide I once heard someone standing outside our building, smoking furiously and complaining loudly on their phone about the early start time of their meeting and wondering aloud why they were even there. When I got to my next interview, I realised to my dismay the noisy moaner was my next candidate. Not a great start! “ 5. BE ON MESSAGE FROM THE OUTSET Politicians coached in handling the media are always advised to have a maximum of three key messages to get across, which they should stick to and repeat throughout any interview. Similarly, it’s a good idea to have two or three key points that you want to make about what you have to offer and what you’re looking for. For example, ‘I’m ready for the challenge of managing a team’, ‘I combine compliance experience with technical expertise’, ‘In my career, I’ve developed an extensive digital transformation skill set’. These are the three key points that you want your interviewer to remember about you. So try to work them in naturally whenever you can, even in the first few minutes. It’s also important to have a ready answer for some of the most common questions that come up early on, such as ‘Tell me why you want this job’ and ‘What’s your understanding of what this job involves?’ “ Make a strong start The Complete Interview Guide | 14 KNOW YOUR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Know your interview questions 15 | The Complete Interview Guide Make sure you’re listening to the questions and tailoring your answers – you can prepare, but you need to understand the nuances of the person interviewing you. You may have great intentions about what you plan to say in the interview, but don’t force it if it’s not natural. “ “ Know your interview questions The Complete Interview Guide | 16 DISTINGUISH YOURSELF Competency questions are a useful way for employers to distinguish if you’re a good fit for their organisation, and to differentiate between different candidates with similar levels of skill and experience. That’s because no two stories – and no two storytellers – are the same. Stories are a powerful communication tool because they appeal to both the emotional and rational sides of the brain. They’re a chance for you to show more of your personality and establish a warmer connection with your interviewer that goes beyond the data of your CV. You can also use them to demonstrate more of what you’re capable of, and to steer the interview in the direction that best showcases your suitability for the role. WHAT WILL I BE ASKED? There’s a wide range of topics that you might be asked a competency question about. The questions tend to fall into several predictable categories, such as personal qualities, interpersonal skills and team behaviour, leadership and management, commercial and client skills, as well as problem- solving and decision-making skills. Here are some examples: • ‘Tell us about a time when you had to deal with challenging feedback on your work’ • ‘Tell me about a time when you were able to resolve a conflict within your team’ • ‘Tell me about a time when you were able to help a team member who was struggling with morale issues’ TELL A POWERFUL STORY Interviewers are relying more and more on competency questions to help them differentiate between competing candidates. But what are they exactly – and what’s the best way to approach them? Know your interview questions 19 | The Complete Interview Guide Stories are a powerful communication tool because they appeal to both the emotional and rational sides of the brain. Use competency questions to tell your unique story. “ • ‘Describe a situation where you were able to directly influence your company’s bottom line’ • ‘Can you tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult strategic decision and win over others in the process?’ You can often infer the sort of questions that you might be asked at a specific interview from what you know of the role, the job description, and of course your own CV. If you’re working with a recruitment consultant, make sure you ask for their advice too – as experts, they’ll know which competencies the employer is looking for. If, for example, you are interviewing for a role where you’ll be managing people for the first time, you can expect a question like: ‘Tell me about a time when you had to step in and show leadership in your team’. This gives you a chance to show that, even if you haven’t formally had to demonstrate a particular competency before, you already have the potential to do so. “ FAST FACTS • Competency questions help employers differentiate between similar candidates • Use competency questions to tell your unique story • Look at the job description for clues on what may be asked • Ask your recruitment consultant what competencies the hiring manager is looking for Know your interview questions The Complete Interview Guide | 20 If you are moving into a role where the ability to cope with significant time pressure is critical, you might be asked, ‘Tell us about a time where you had to juggle lots of conflicting deadlines’. If close team- working or client-facing skills are essential, you might be asked, ‘Tell us about a situation where you had to find a way to work with a colleague who you didn’t always get on with’, or ‘Tell me about a time when you went the extra mile to delight a customer’. HOW TO ANSWER A COMPETENCY QUESTION Think of your answer to a competency question as a very focused kind of story. Any good story has a character we care about – that’s you. The character is set a challenge or finds themselves in a tricky situation. Then they have to go on a journey and take some actions to find the answer, and usually gain a valuable life lesson in the process. For your big finish, focus on the positive outcome that you helped to achieve, and briefly say what you learned in the process. To make your story more credible and relatable, add in a few specific details and anecdotal touches (but stay on point – don’t waffle). And don’t be afraid to show yourself in a less than perfect light at some points too: as in any good Hollywood film, things tend to go worse for our hero before they get better, and seeing how you overcome these challenges – whether internal or external – adds to the power of the story. If you’re working with a recruitment consultant make sure you ask for their advice too – as experts, they’ll know which competencies the employer is looking for. “ “ Know your interview questions 21 | The Complete Interview Guide There are great candidates out there who make common interview mistakes such as interrupting the interviewer or speaking negatively about their former employer, and sadly it ends up costing them the job. “ “ Avoid common interview mistakes The Complete Interview Guide | 24 DON’T BE APATHETIC We’ve all been there, agreeing to an interview even when you’re not overly excited by the job description. However, it’s important that you are enthusiastic from the get-go because it will be too late if you decide halfway through the interview that you do want the job after all. The interviewer will have already picked up on your lack of enthusiasm and it will be extremely difficult to turn the interview around. Put your doubts aside, go in wanting the job and approach the interview in that frame of mind. It’s also important to note that no matter how qualified you are, you still need to display energy and enthusiasm. If you sit there with all the experience in the world but don’t convey enthusiasm, then the interviewer won’t be interested. Clients have an ego too, they want to feel that the candidate sees the role as a good opportunity and will value it. AVOID NEGATIVE TALK Speaking negatively about your current or previous employer is a major pitfall you will do well to avoid. You may feel negatively about your current workplace, but don’t be too honest if that’s your reason for leaving. Sometimes people nail an interview but then end it by saying something negative about their employer. It comes across as unprofessional and we all know there are two sides to every story. It’s also important to avoid flimsy answers to the question ‘why are you looking to change jobs?’. For example, ‘I got bored’ or ‘I wasn’t progressing’ when you’ve only been in the role for 12 months will set off TOP SIX INTERVIEW MISTAKES TO AVOID While it’s important to know the right thing to do and say at an interview, it’s also essential to understand the common interview pitfalls that many unwittingly fall into. Here we share the top six interview mistakes to avoid. Avoid common interview mistakes 25 | The Complete Interview Guide Overfamiliarity is something that really puts me off a candidate. You should always let the interviewer lead the tone of the interview and not behave or speak informally unless the interviewer does so. “ alarm bells for the interviewer. It’s best to construct answers that are honest but still paint you in a positive light. For example, ‘I’m looking for a more challenging, varied role as my current role isn’t stretching me’ or ‘I really enjoy being part of a dynamic team and my job doesn’t offer that currently’. PERSONAL HYGIENE We talked earlier in the guide about your physical appearance and finding out the dress code before the interview so you don’t look out of step with the company culture when you arrive. But it’s equally important to consider your personal cleanliness. For example, if you stopped for a coffee on the way to the interview make sure you have a mint to freshen up. It’s also a good idea to avoid smoking prior to the interview. On the flip side, the overpowering smell of aftershave or perfume can be equally off-putting for interviewers. Sometimes in our eagerness to smell good we may get carried away which can be distracting for the person we’re meeting. To be sure, ask a friend to check that you haven’t overdone the “ FAST FACTS • Remember to listen and never talk over the interviewer • Check your personal hygiene but don’t overdo the cologne • Put your doubts aside and show you’re enthusiastic about the job • Don’t speak negatively about your current employer Avoid common interview mistakes The Complete Interview Guide | 26 Welcome The Complete Interview Guide | 1 THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW GUIDE HELPING YOU LAND THE PERFECT ROLE CONTENTS 02 Welcome 03 Prepare to be the best you How to prepare The day of the interview 09 Make a strong start How to maximise the first five minutes of an interview 15 Know your interview questions Common interview questions Tell a powerful story 23 Avoid common interview mistakes Top six mistakes to avoid 29 Thrive in all conditions Making that Skype interview count Understand your interviewer Overcoming unconscious bias 35 Contact Us Welcome 1 | The Complete Interview Guide We see it all the time – great candidates being passed over because they didn’t prepare for an interview properly. Even if you don’t have the full skill set you can still land the job by being well prepared and enthusiastic. “ “ Prepare to be the best you The Complete Interview Guide | 4 RESEARCH The first thing to do is visit the company’s website and social channels. Make sure you read the home page, about us and services/products sections and note down the key points you learn about the company including its history, vision and mission. Then move on to a web search of the company to find out if it’s been in the news lately. This will ensure you come across as informed and up-to-date with topical issues. It’s also a good idea to know who its competitors are and what differentiates them from other businesses in their field. LEARN Learn your CV off by heart so that you can talk naturally and fluently about your employment history and key achievements. Spend some time mapping out how your skills and experience match the job description. You want to make it easy for the interviewer to see how you’re a great fit for the role. It’s also wise to research your current and previous employers online so you can answer questions confidently. PRACTICE Ask someone you trust to help you practice common interview questions and competency- based interview questions. Practising out loud will stop you from ‘rambling’ on the day and help you to communicate your thoughts clearly and succinctly. We cover interview questions later in the guide. DEVISE YOUR QUESTIONS Try to think of questions that will make you stand out from other interviewees. Interviewers tend to be impressed by candidates with an enthusiastic attitude and those who have gone the extra mile to prepare for the interview. HOW TO PREPARE The importance of preparation cannot be overstated. As well as boosting your confidence, it will help you to show the best you. Interviewers frequently test a candidate’s preparation to see how enthusiastic they are about the role and the company. Thorough preparation demonstrates to them that you’re serious about the job. For a fairly straightforward interview you should allow half a day’s preparation time, but for more senior roles which will require you to go deeper, it’s best to allocate a full day. Prepare to be the best you 5 | The Complete Interview Guide I always start by asking people to explain what our business does. This deceptively simple question floors lots of people – it’s amazing how many interviewees struggle with it, perhaps because they’re attending several interviews in a row and haven’t made the time to do much research. But if you don’t come across as having a firm grasp of the company and why it’s hiring, the interviewer can only conclude that you’re not really that bothered about the job. “Use your questions to demonstrate your preparation and insight. For example, if you’ve looked at some of their employees’ LinkedIn profiles and seen that people tend to get promoted every two to three years, then ask about that. While it’s a good idea to look at the interviewer’s LinkedIn profile, it’s important to ensure you don’t come across as ‘creepy’ by commenting on personal information you’ve gleaned – it’s best to keep it professional. Likewise, read the annual report and latest press releases. Look for things where you can make a link to the role and department you are hoping to join. For example, “I read that you’ve just launched x. What will that mean for the growth of this role?” Be creative and imaginative, and remember to avoid questions about pay and benefits in the first interview. These topics can be discussed once you’ve been offered the job. “ FAST FACTS • Go the extra mile with your research • Map out how your skills and experience match the job description • Do a mock interview with a friend or your recruiter • Prepare interesting questions to make yourself stand out Prepare to be the best you The Complete Interview Guide | 6 MAKE A STRONG START Make a strong start 9 | The Complete Interview Guide One candidate I interviewed recently asked me a non-stop string of questions about my family, the job, the company, things in the news – all sorts of things. But he didn’t really have much to say himself and he didn’t really wait to hear my answer before asking the next question, so he just came across as rather anxious and scattered. “ “ Make a strong start The Complete Interview Guide | 10 1. REMEMBER THE INTERVIEW STARTS AS SOON AS YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE The interview starts long before you shake hands and sit down around the table. You never know who you might bump into as you get off your bus or train, or enter the company’s building – for all you know, your interviewer could be in the same coffee bar queue as you. So make sure you project a friendly, confident, professional air from the moment you set off. Doubtless you’ll have made sure you arrive early. Give yourself time to have a comfort break and make sure you’re hydrated. Make conversation with the receptionist, switch off your phone and take in your surroundings – you might notice something that will make a useful small-talk topic later. Don’t try to cram in any last-minute facts – you want to come across as calm and organised, not flustered and under-prepared. 2. TREAT EVERYONE YOU MEET AS YOUR INTERVIEWER Make sure that you’re polite and friendly to everyone you come across in the interview process. From greeting the receptionist, to the people you share a lift with, to walking through an open-plan office to reach your meeting room – these are all touchpoints with your potential future employer. Co-workers will often share their impressions of visitors afterwards, so you want everyone who comes into contact with you to see you in as positive a light as possible. HOW TO MAXIMISE THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES OF AN INTERVIEW We’ve all heard it said that first impressions count and it’s especially true of job interviews. One third of bosses say they know within 90 seconds whether they will hire someone, so starting strong is a must. From the all important hand shake to making small talk and maintaining eye contact, there are so many things to be aware of in the first five minutes of an interview. Given these first few moments can have such a decisive impact on how well the rest of the interview goes, here’s how to start strong – together with some cautionary tales of what not to do from real interviewers. Make a strong start 11 | The Complete Interview Guide I once heard someone standing outside our building, smoking furiously and complaining loudly on their phone about the early start time of their meeting and wondering aloud why they were even there. When I got to my next interview, I realised to my dismay the noisy moaner was my next candidate. Not a great start! “ 5. BE ON MESSAGE FROM THE OUTSET Politicians coached in handling the media are always advised to have a maximum of three key messages to get across, which they should stick to and repeat throughout any interview. Similarly, it’s a good idea to have two or three key points that you want to make about what you have to offer and what you’re looking for. For example, ‘I’m ready for the challenge of managing a team’, ‘I combine compliance experience with technical expertise’, ‘In my career, I’ve developed an extensive digital transformation skill set’. These are the three key points that you want your interviewer to remember about you. So try to work them in naturally whenever you can, even in the first few minutes. It’s also important to have a ready answer for some of the most common questions that come up early on, such as ‘Tell me why you want this job’ and ‘What’s your understanding of what this job involves?’ “ Make a strong start The Complete Interview Guide | 14 KNOW YOUR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Know your interview questions 15 | The Complete Interview Guide Make sure you’re listening to the questions and tailoring your answers – you can prepare, but you need to understand the nuances of the person interviewing you. You may have great intentions about what you plan to say in the interview, but don’t force it if it’s not natural. “ “ Know your interview questions The Complete Interview Guide | 16 DISTINGUISH YOURSELF Competency questions are a useful way for employers to distinguish if you’re a good fit for their organisation, and to differentiate between different candidates with similar levels of skill and experience. That’s because no two stories – and no two storytellers – are the same. Stories are a powerful communication tool because they appeal to both the emotional and rational sides of the brain. They’re a chance for you to show more of your personality and establish a warmer connection with your interviewer that goes beyond the data of your CV. You can also use them to demonstrate more of what you’re capable of, and to steer the interview in the direction that best showcases your suitability for the role. WHAT WILL I BE ASKED? There’s a wide range of topics that you might be asked a competency question about. The questions tend to fall into several predictable categories, such as personal qualities, interpersonal skills and team behaviour, leadership and management, commercial and client skills, as well as problem- solving and decision-making skills. Here are some examples: • ‘Tell us about a time when you had to deal with challenging feedback on your work’ • ‘Tell me about a time when you were able to resolve a conflict within your team’ • ‘Tell me about a time when you were able to help a team member who was struggling with morale issues’ TELL A POWERFUL STORY Interviewers are relying more and more on competency questions to help them differentiate between competing candidates. But what are they exactly – and what’s the best way to approach them? Know your interview questions 19 | The Complete Interview Guide Stories are a powerful communication tool because they appeal to both the emotional and rational sides of the brain. Use competency questions to tell your unique story. “ • ‘Describe a situation where you were able to directly influence your company’s bottom line’ • ‘Can you tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult strategic decision and win over others in the process?’ You can often infer the sort of questions that you might be asked at a specific interview from what you know of the role, the job description, and of course your own CV. If you’re working with a recruitment consultant, make sure you ask for their advice too – as experts, they’ll know which competencies the employer is looking for. If, for example, you are interviewing for a role where you’ll be managing people for the first time, you can expect a question like: ‘Tell me about a time when you had to step in and show leadership in your team’. This gives you a chance to show that, even if you haven’t formally had to demonstrate a particular competency before, you already have the potential to do so. “ FAST FACTS • Competency questions help employers differentiate between similar candidates • Use competency questions to tell your unique story • Look at the job description for clues on what may be asked • Ask your recruitment consultant what competencies the hiring manager is looking for Know your interview questions The Complete Interview Guide | 20 If you are moving into a role where the ability to cope with significant time pressure is critical, you might be asked, ‘Tell us about a time where you had to juggle lots of conflicting deadlines’. If close team- working or client-facing skills are essential, you might be asked, ‘Tell us about a situation where you had to find a way to work with a colleague who you didn’t always get on with’, or ‘Tell me about a time when you went the extra mile to delight a customer’. HOW TO ANSWER A COMPETENCY QUESTION Think of your answer to a competency question as a very focused kind of story. Any good story has a character we care about – that’s you. The character is set a challenge or finds themselves in a tricky situation. Then they have to go on a journey and take some actions to find the answer, and usually gain a valuable life lesson in the process. For your big finish, focus on the positive outcome that you helped to achieve, and briefly say what you learned in the process. To make your story more credible and relatable, add in a few specific details and anecdotal touches (but stay on point – don’t waffle). And don’t be afraid to show yourself in a less than perfect light at some points too: as in any good Hollywood film, things tend to go worse for our hero before they get better, and seeing how you overcome these challenges – whether internal or external – adds to the power of the story. If you’re working with a recruitment consultant make sure you ask for their advice too – as experts, they’ll know which competencies the employer is looking for. “ “ Know your interview questions 21 | The Complete Interview Guide There are great candidates out there who make common interview mistakes such as interrupting the interviewer or speaking negatively about their former employer, and sadly it ends up costing them the job. “ “ Avoid common interview mistakes The Complete Interview Guide | 24 DON’T BE APATHETIC We’ve all been there, agreeing to an interview even when you’re not overly excited by the job description. However, it’s important that you are enthusiastic from the get-go because it will be too late if you decide halfway through the interview that you do want the job after all. The interviewer will have already picked up on your lack of enthusiasm and it will be extremely difficult to turn the interview around. Put your doubts aside, go in wanting the job and approach the interview in that frame of mind. It’s also important to note that no matter how qualified you are, you still need to display energy and enthusiasm. If you sit there with all the experience in the world but don’t convey enthusiasm, then the interviewer won’t be interested. Clients have an ego too, they want to feel that the candidate sees the role as a good opportunity and will value it. AVOID NEGATIVE TALK Speaking negatively about your current or previous employer is a major pitfall you will do well to avoid. You may feel negatively about your current workplace, but don’t be too honest if that’s your reason for leaving. Sometimes people nail an interview but then end it by saying something negative about their employer. It comes across as unprofessional and we all know there are two sides to every story. It’s also important to avoid flimsy answers to the question ‘why are you looking to change jobs?’. For example, ‘I got bored’ or ‘I wasn’t progressing’ when you’ve only been in the role for 12 months will set off TOP SIX INTERVIEW MISTAKES TO AVOID While it’s important to know the right thing to do and say at an interview, it’s also essential to understand the common interview pitfalls that many unwittingly fall into. Here we share the top six interview mistakes to avoid. Avoid common interview mistakes 25 | The Complete Interview Guide Overfamiliarity is something that really puts me off a candidate. You should always let the interviewer lead the tone of the interview and not behave or speak informally unless the interviewer does so. “ alarm bells for the interviewer. It’s best to construct answers that are honest but still paint you in a positive light. For example, ‘I’m looking for a more challenging, varied role as my current role isn’t stretching me’ or ‘I really enjoy being part of a dynamic team and my job doesn’t offer that currently’. PERSONAL HYGIENE We talked earlier in the guide about your physical appearance and finding out the dress code before the interview so you don’t look out of step with the company culture when you arrive. But it’s equally important to consider your personal cleanliness. For example, if you stopped for a coffee on the way to the interview make sure you have a mint to freshen up. It’s also a good idea to avoid smoking prior to the interview. On the flip side, the overpowering smell of aftershave or perfume can be equally off-putting for interviewers. Sometimes in our eagerness to smell good we may get carried away which can be distracting for the person we’re meeting. To be sure, ask a friend to check that you haven’t overdone the “ FAST FACTS • Remember to listen and never talk over the interviewer • Check your personal hygiene but don’t overdo the cologne • Put your doubts aside and show you’re enthusiastic about the job • Don’t speak negatively about your current employer Avoid common interview mistakes The Complete Interview Guide | 26 THRIVE IN ALL CONDITIONS Thrive in all conditions 29 | The Complete Interview Guide Whether it’s a Skype interview with the line manager or an in-person interview with the HR manager, every situation is different. It’s important to be well prepared so you can thrive in all conditions. “ “ Thrive in all conditions The Complete Interview Guide | 30 PREPARE YOUR SPACE You wouldn’t expect to attend an interview in a badly lit, noisy room filled with distractions, so why do it for a Skype interview? It’s much easier for an interviewer to concentrate on you if they can see and hear you clearly, without distractions or interruptions. Here are top tips from our experts on preparing your interview space: Tidy up – Make sure your background is clean, tidy and uncluttered, as interviewers will look at your environment to get clues about who you are. The interviewer doesn’t want to see your laundry in the background. Light it up – You won’t come across as your best self if your face is in the shadows. Ideally choose a room with a lot of natural light, but if that’s not possible, then put a lamp beside your laptop and adjust it until your face is illuminated on the screen. Shut it up – Turn off your mobile phone and shut doors and windows to block out background noise. It’s also worth telling people in your vicinity that you’re being interviewed and you don’t want to be interrupted. Try to avoid having people walking behind you during the interview, as this is an unnecessary distraction that takes the attention away from you. TECHNICAL CHECKS Skype interviews require extra preparation as you need to ensure all the technology is working. Knowing that you’ve tested everything in advance will reduce your stress on the day and ensure you don’t become easily flustered. MAKING THAT SKYPE INTERVIEW COUNT Most of us use Skype as a way to stay in touch with family and friends, so we think of it as a relaxed, social form of communication. However this is not the case when it comes to Skype interviews – you need to treat them with the same professionalism as an in-person interview. For example, make sure you dress professionally (and fully), as you never know when you may need to get up during the interview and you don’t want to have your pyjama bottoms on display. Thrive in all conditions 31 | The Complete Interview Guide OVERCOMING UNCONSCIOUS BIAS While companies strive to make the interview process fair and objective, it’s an unfortunate reality that interviewers are human and all carry with them some assumptions about different types of people. This is called ‘unconscious bias’ and it is the tendency we all have to favour those who look and act like us, as well as those we consider to be charming and attractive. However don’t be discouraged, there are many ways to ensure an interviewer doesn’t apply their unconscious biases to you. Here are a few tips: Mirror speech and behaviours – Knowing that we tend to favour those who act like us, it’s a good idea to match the way you speak and behave in an interview to your interviewer. For example, if they speak very formally, then you should do the same. Address the bias – Don’t be afraid to mention a particular bias you faced in a previous role and how you overcame it. For example, your age may have led people to overlook you for promotion, so talk about what you did to address this. However, be careful not to insinuate that the interviewer is biased against you. Build rapport – Look for opportunities to form a personal connection with the interviewer. This can often be done when you talk about your hobbies and interests, or when making small talk. If you notice something sparks their interest, then delve deeper into this topic. You can also ask them what they like about working at the company to learn more about their motivations and find a point of potential connection. 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