It is often hard to get to sleep the night before an interview. The next day could literally change your life. That is one of the great things about what I do – my clients come to me to prepare for events that could change their lives. Getting a job, getting selected as a candidate, getting elected to office, getting promoted, buying or selling a business, or pitching for and getting a new big counteract – all of these are life changing events for the people involved. It is a privilege to be part of my client’s lives at these important moments – but it is also nerve-wracking.
So what happens if you have an interview tomorrow? What can you do to improve your chances of changing your life?
- Re-read the advert, the job description and the description of what and who they are looking for. They have spent time writing that advert – you would be a fool not to take it seriously and not to re-read it the evening before the interview. If I sound like that annoying teacher from school who says read the question before you start writing – good! If you have done research – re-read it. If you haven’t – do some. Quickly. In the interview you need to focus on what is relevant to them – nothing else.
- You should know three point answers to the most basic three interview questions: Why do you want to work here? Why should we hire you? and (the most harmless sounding, yet the most dangerous of them all) “Tell us about yourself.”.
- Ignore your CV and don’t refer to it. Your covering letter and your CV got you in the room and are your business card and your introducer. But now YOU have to be “in the room” and you need to shine alone. Talk to the other humans in the room like they are humans – have a conversation with them. Keep your comments tight and don’t witter on with unnecessary details and rubbish – but speak to them like one person speaking to other people.
- Dress smartly, breathe from the bottom of your belly and smile when you are speaking. Look and sound as if you actually want the job. THis might win you the interview.
- Use case studies from your personal experience rather than empty claims. Why should they believe your claims to be hard working, conscientious, honest, brilliant? Claims are discarded – case studies and evidence stick.