Interview Tips for Job Seekers: Our Top 3 Ways to Succeed

I find interviews just a little bit weird if I am honest. Not because I don’t think they are needed; they absolutely are but rather it is such an awkward interaction for both parties at times.

As an interviewer you are literally judging someone’s ability and worth in accordance with what your company believes and as a job seeker you are trying to impress without showing off too much all the while never really being trained on how to properly interview.

It’s a funny dance that unless you stop to learn more about, your ability to interview will sometimes be amazing and other times be terrible and you wont really know why each time.

In this article I want to offer you our top 3 tips to help you in your next interview (job seeker focused). That way, if you don’t work with us as your recruiting partner, at least we can impart some knowledge onto you to help you along your journey.

Tip 1 – Really research the company and role

Really is in there for a reason. Everyone claims they research ahead of an interview, but you can for sure tell who has and who just hopped onto the website and clicked around a little. One of the best ways to impress your interviewer is to demonstrate that you have taken the time to research the company and the role you are applying for. Start by reading the job description carefully and make sure you understand the skills and experience required for the role. Look up the company's website and social media profiles to get a sense of their values, mission, and culture. You can also do a Google search to find any recent news or press releases related to the company.

During the interview, deploy your research to your advantage by highlighting how your skills and experience align with the company's values and goals. This shows the interviewer that you are genuinely interested in them as a company and have taken the time to understand as much as you can about them ahead of time.

Tip 2 – Practice, practice and a little more practice

Interviews can be unpredictable, but there are some common questions that you can prepare for in advance. Practice your responses to common behavioural, situational and tech questions, such as "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" or "Why do you want to work for our company?" Rehearsing your responses can help you feel more confident and prepared during the interview, it also means that you piece together something that is clear and concise that you know packs a punch.

Tip 3 – Be nothing but yourself (this is the so important)

It’s essential to be yourself during the interview. Don't try to be someone you're not or give answers that you think the interviewer wants to hear. Instead, be honest and authentic about your experience, skills, and goals.

Consider this, you try to be what they want you to be, and it works. However, this persona needs to be maintained when you start, in reality it will never hold so best to be yourself from the get-go and find a company that supports that.

If you can, take time to up-skill yourself in interviewing before you apply for jobs. A small course or some support from a trusted recruiter really will go a long way. If you cannot for whatever reason, then utilise this article and any others you find useful on Community | Peritus Partners (perituspartners.co.uk) to guide you where we can.

Feel free to share these tops tips with your network if you feel someone could benefit from reading them.

Peritus Partners is a next generation recruitment team that focuses on blending education, business and community together. Interested to see how we can help find the best talent for your team or interested in finding a new job? Reach out today 😎