How To Nail A Job Interview In 5 Minutes
1. What time should I arrive at my interview?
On arrival put your phone on silent mode, make conversation with the receptionist and take in your surroundings – you might notice something that will make a useful ‘small-talk’ topic later. Don’t try and cram in any last-minute facts – you want to come across as calm and organised, not flustered and under-prepared.
What not to do:
Don’t keep standing outside the building, smoking furiously and complaining loudly on phone about the early start time of the meeting and wondering aloud why you were even there
2. What should I do before my interview?
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 and colleagues, who will often share their impressions of visitors afterwards. Make sure that everyone you come into contact with sees you in a positive light.
What not to do:
‘I like to make a point of coming down to greet candidates in person. On one occasion, a candidate assumed I was an assistant, treated me in a very offhand way and rather rudely asked me to get them a drink. They got quite a shock when they saw I was heading up the interview panel! But what most disappointed me was the idea that it’s appropriate to treat staff of any level in such a way.’
3. How can I create a strong first impression?
First impressions count, and non-verbal cues matter even more than verbal ones. So in those first few minutes, it’s all about smiling confidently, shaking hands firmly, making eye contact and generally looking as if you’re glad to be there and you want the job. In everything you do, project an attitude of energy, enthusiasm and interest.
What not to do:
‘One candidate I interviewed asked for a glass of water while they waited. It was icy-cold and they must have spilled it just before we met, so my first impression was a very damp, chilly handshake. So always hold your drink in your left hand!’
4. How can I prepare for the small talk?
As part of your interview preparation, it’s a good idea to think ahead to some likely topics that might come up, so as to help keep the conversation flowing smoothly. The key is to come up with topics where you may have a shared interest, so that you’re able to both ask and answer credible questions.
Think, about topical themes. For example, has your potential employer been in the news recently? Or could you ask about the potential impact on the company of a recent event, such as new immigration laws, falling share prices or a serious malware attack? In each case, make sure you have an interesting thought of your own to contribute too.
What not to do:
‘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.’
5. How can I express a key message?
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 skillset’.
These are the three key points that you want your interviewer to remember about you. So try and 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?’
What not to do:
‘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 people 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.’
First impressions count
Survey after survey highlights the importance of getting the first few seconds and minutes of your job interview right:
- Six in ten managers say an interviewee’s dress sense has a big impact on their employability (source: monster.co.uk survey)
- 33% of bosses say they know within 90 seconds whether they will hire someone (source: Classes and Careers)
- It can take someone about a 1/10 of a second to form an impression of your trustworthiness – and that impression rarely changes later (source: Psychological Science)
- Looking your interlocutor in the eye can help to raise their perception of your intelligence (source: Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin)
- More conservative colours such as blue and black are a safer bet in interviews, according to one survey of over 2000 hiring professionals. Orange is the worst! (source: CareerBuilder)
ALSO READ: Steps To Identify A Fake Job In Nigeria
How To Nail A Job Interview In 5 Minutes