10 LAST-MINUTE INTERVIEW TIPS for 2023!
To help you pass your job interview at the first attempt, we will cover two things during this blog.
- We will give you 11 tips that will ensure you do well in any interview. These tips are tried and tested, and they will make a huge difference to your performance on the day.
- We will explain how to quickly overcome interview nerves! Interview nerves are the number one reason why people don’t do well in job interviews. We are going to help you get rid of those interview nerves.
INTERVIEW TIP #1 is to write down a list of your top 5 strengths
These are the strengths you are going to talk about the most during your interview. Now, the best 5 strengths to focus on in any interview are as follows:
STRENGTH #1 COLLABORATION SKILLS – This means you fit into any team quickly, and you work closely with others to achieve all tasks and projects.
STRENGTH #2. INTERPERSONAL SKILLS – Interpersonal skills is the ability to interact well with other people.
STRENGTH #3. COMMUNICATION SKILLS – You communicate with team members clearly and concisely, your written communication is free from mistakes, and you talk to customers positively to make them feel welcomed.
STRENGTH #4. PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS – You take ownership of problems and come up with solutions that are in the best inserts of the organization.
STRENGTH #5. SELF-DISCIPLINE – The strength of self-discipline means you organize your work, prioritize tasks, and you get everything completed on time and to expected standards.
So, there’s 5 strengths for you to talk about during your interview that will impress the hiring manager.
INTERVIEW TIP #2 is to RESEARCH THE COMPANY before the interview
Before your job interview, take note of what the company actually does, be aware of the products and services they offer, and check out their social media pages to see what their latest news stories are.
All of this research will enable you to answer the interview questions, “what can you tell us about our company?” and “why do you want to work for us?”
INTERVIEW TIP #3 is to think of SITUATIONS you have been in where you worked as part of a team, overcame a difficult challenge, and worked under pressure
So, during the interviewer the hiring manager is going to ask you several behavioural interview questions. The most common behavioural questions are:
- Tell me about a time when you work in a team.
- Tell me about a time when you had to overcome a difficult challenge.
- Tell me about a time when you worked under pressure.
The best way to answer these and other behavioural interview questions is to use the STAR technique. STAR stands for situation, task, action, and result.
- So, you start your answer and tell the interviewer the SITUATION you were faced with.
- You then move on and briefly outline the TASK that needed doing.
- You then give in-depth details about the ACTION you took to complete the task.
- Finally, finish your answer and tell the interviewer the RESULTS following your actions.
UNLOCK 50+ Interview
Questions & High-Scoring Answers Today + Get the insider video tuition for EACH question for FREE!
- The secrets to passing any interview;
- The common mistakes made at the interview (and how to avoid them!);
- Over 50 interview questions to prepare for (and how each is assessed);
- Full answers to each of the questions so you can learn how to deliver successful answers of your own.
- Beating the competition (what you MUST do to be successful);
- Checklists and printable resources;
- All interview answers are verified by our interview panel of experts.
- Instant online access as soon as your order is placed to over 50 interactive modules.
SPECIAL OFFER £97.99 NOW: FREE with a 30-day trial!
INTERVIEW TIP #4 is to make sure you arrive at the interview venue 10 minutes before your interview is scheduled to start
There is no excuse for being late to an interview, so make sure you are punctual. Also, be polite to the reception staff when you enter the building. Recently, a hiring manger posed as the receptionist, and when the candidate wasn’t polite to them when they showed up, they immediately rejected them!
INTERVIEW TIP #5 is to make sure you script out your answer to the question “tell me about yourself” and practice it before your interview
The first question you must answer will be “tell me about yourself”. You are being asked this question so the hiring manager can quickly determine if you are going to be a good fit for their team, and to also assess your communication skills. If you give a weak answer, you will probably fail the interview. Let us give you a brilliant scripted answer to help you:
TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF
“My name is [Name] and I would describe myself as knowledgeable, supportive, creative, commercially-aware, and someone who takes pride in their work.
Over recent years, I have developed a diverse range of skills and undertaken numerous development courses that have enabled me to become a competent and knowledgeable asset to any team.
In my last role, I was renowned for my fast pace of work, my desire to embrace change with a positive attitude, and my willingness to help train up new members of staff whenever they joined the team.
I am a high-achiever. For example, in my last job, I helped the company promote its products and services to a wider audience on social media which helped increase sales, and I was often praised by my manager for my willingness to cover co-workers’ duties whenever they were off sick or on holiday.
If you hire me, I plan to build a long-term career here and I promise to always add value to my team by carrying out my duties with passion, dedication and diligence.”
INTERVIEW TIP #6 is to prepare 3 questions to ask at the end of your interview
Those candidates who ask no questions at the end of their interview are missing the opportunity to further demonstrate they are the person the company should be hiring.
Let us give you 3 smart questions to ask in your interview:
Q1. Can you tell me more about the team I would be a part of in this role?
Q2. What’s the one thing I could do in this role to help your business succeed?
Q3. What advice would you give to the successful candidate who wants to excel in the role?
Ask those 3 questions at the end of your interview and the hiring manager will definitely be impressed!
INTERVIEW TIP #7 is to prepare answers to the 10 most common interview questions
There are ten questions that come up all the time during job interviews. Those questions are:
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why do you want this job?
- What are your strengths?
- What’s your biggest weakness?
- Why do you want to leave your job?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- Describe yourself in three words!
- How would you deal with conflict with a co-worker?
- What are you looking for in your next job?
- Why should we hire you?
INTERVIEW TIP #8 is to wear a smart and professional outfit to your interview
It does not matter which job you are being interviewed for. If you don’t present yourself in a positive manner, you won’t get hired. By taking pride in your appearance, and by wearing a smart and professional outfit, it tells the hiring manager you care, you are professional, and you have high standards!
INTERVIEW TIP #9 is to take a PLAN OF ACTION with you to your interview
Towards the end of your interview, the hiring manager will say to you, “why should we hire you?” You can respond by giving the following answer:
“You should hire me because not only do I have the skills, qualities and experience to match the job description, but I also have a plan of action prepared for what I will do in the position. This means I can come into the role, fit into your team quickly, and start taking action towards the company’s objectives.”
Once you have given your answer, hand them a copy of your plan of action to read!
INTERVIEW TIP #10 is to have a strategy in place for what you are going to do if you struggle to answer any of the interview questions
If they ask you a question that you are not sure how to answer, do one of the following 3 things.
#1. Ask the interviewer to reword the question if you are unsure what they are asking you.
#2. Ask if you can come back to the question at the end of the interview. This gives you more time to think of an answer.
#3. Tell the interviewer you are not sure of the answer but you will contact them by email with your response as soon as you get back from your interview.
INTERVIEW TIP #11 is how to overcome interview nerves.
Understandably, you are going to be nervous before and during your interview
Now, whilst the previous 10 tips we gave you will go a long way to helping reduce interview nerves, there’s one more thing you can do to bring your anxiety levels down.
So, the one thing you can to reduce interview nerves is to stop thinking of it as an interview. Instead, think of it as a MEETING between you and a potential employer. Because, at the end of the day, that is all it is – it’s a meeting to find out whether you are suitable for them, and they are suitable for you! Once you start thinking of it as a meeting, your nerves will reduce significantly.
UNLOCK 50+ Interview
Questions & High-Scoring Answers Today + Get the insider video tuition for EACH question for FREE!
- The secrets to passing any interview;
- The common mistakes made at the interview (and how to avoid them!);
- Over 50 interview questions to prepare for (and how each is assessed);
- Full answers to each of the questions so you can learn how to deliver successful answers of your own.
- Beating the competition (what you MUST do to be successful);
- Checklists and printable resources;
- All interview answers are verified by our interview panel of experts.
- Instant online access as soon as your order is placed to over 50 interactive modules.
SPECIAL OFFER £97.99 NOW: FREE with a 30-day trial!
