Bag the job of your dreams by nailing the interview with top tips from the experts
Has the dawn of a new decade made you determined to bag a new job? You’re not alone.
According to recruitment site Monster, eight of the 10 busiest job- searching days in the year occur in January – when people have more time over Christmas and New Year to think about their future.
But for many people, looking is the easy part, as attending the interview is when the fear kicks in. So how should you prepare?
“Research the organisation, follow its social media accounts and get a feel for its corporate culture,” says Amanda Augustine, careers expert at TopCV. Once you’ve done as much research into the company and role as possible, there are some common interview questions that you should probably be ready for.
This means truly knowing yourself and your skills and being able to present them
articulately.
Sounds tricky? We’ve asked top careers experts how to answer the most difficult interview questions without breaking into a sweat. Your dream job awaits.
Tell me about yourself…
This is an opening gambit for many interviewers, and it can be deceptively difficult to answer. “It’s an opportunity to show that you fit the role and the organisation,” says Dr Naeema Pasha, business psychologist and director of careers at Henley Business School.
“Don’t forget it’s as much about you fitting into a team as it is about your competency for a role. In my experience, around half of candidates falter at this first question – so plan ahead! Think of three things about yourself that show you’re valuable for the role.”
But be prepared to talk about your experience in a digestible way, advises Michael Doolin, founder of Clover HR. “The biggest mistake a candidate can make is to just rehash their CV, while others talk too much about their personal lives,” he explains.
“It’s a good idea to prepare a one-minute summary of your expertise and experience, plus why you’re interested in the role.”
What is your greatest strength?
This is when you need to show, not tell. It’s not enough to say you’re “reliable” or “an excellent problem-solver” – you need to have proof. Try choosing a skill that you know is integral to the job, and planning how you will demonstrate that you have it.
“For example, if you’re going for a job as a copywriter you’ll want to highlight your writing skills and attention to detail by talking through when you’ve been able to use these strengths in previous roles,” says Michael.
“Also, this is your opportunity to highlight your strengths while showing humility,” explains performance coach Patrick Barr.
“It’s always good to round off the answer by stating that you know you have more to learn and believe you could reach higher levels of accomplishment with the right support.”
What can you bring to this role?
The question being asked here is: “Why should I hire you?” And it might not just be qualifications.
A recent study by TopCV and job board CV-Library asked employers to choose between experience, education and potential – and a staggering 62% opted for potential over experience (35%) and education (2%).
You need to demonstrate your unique potential. “If you’ve taken it upon yourself to learn new skills or stay on top of the latest trends in this industry, this is when you should mention it,” says Amanda.
“The candidate who is genuinely passionate and willing to go outside of their job description to add value is the candidate who will land the job.”
What is your greatest weakness?
“This question is designed to gauge your level of self-awareness and your commitment to self-improvement,” says Amanda. Don’t be tempted to offer #humblebrag weaknesses, such as “I’m too nice” or “I’m a workaholic”.
“Instead, use the STAR method – Situation, Task, Actions, Results – to share a work-related shortcoming that is genuine but non-essential to the role and talk through how you’re overcoming it,” she advises.
Prep an answer that describes a difficult situation or issue you’ve been confronted with, the steps you’ve taken to overcome it – and the (hopefully positive) results.
Michael agrees: “Demonstrate how you’ve used a weakness to grow professionally. A good example could be: ‘I get nervous when speaking in front of groups. However, I’m working on this by enrolling in presentation skills classes and putting myself forward to present at work more often.’”
Why do you want to leave your current job?
However fed up you are, this is not the time to rant. “Never make derogatory comments about other people, whether it’s your current employer or anyone else,” advises Patrick.
“The interviewer will conclude that you are indiscreet and it’s only a matter of time before you will speak negatively about their own company.”
Instead, give things a positive spin. “Focus on what excites you about the new role,” says Charlotte Davies, a careers expert at LinkedIn.
“If you are stuck in a rut in your current job, talk about the opportunities this role will open up – whether that’s learning new skills or managing a bigger team.”
What are your salary expectations?
“It’s worthwhile doing research beforehand to get a rough salary range,” says Charlotte.
“LinkedIn’s Salary Tool uses data from more than 630 million members to show you the earning potential in a role.” But hold out on sharing those numbers. “Being the first to name a figure can work against you,” explains James Reed, CEO and Chairman of Reed.
“It will form the basis for all future negotiations – and you may say a figure that’s lower than the company was going to suggest. Try to deflect the question with something like: ‘Do you have a range in mind?’
If they push you then say: ‘I’m focusing on jobs in the X-Y range,’ having prepared the numbers in advance.”
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Where do you see yourself in three to five years?
“If you don’t have an answer to this question, calmly say so as if it’s the most natural thing in the world,” James advises. “On the other hand, ‘I want to be doing your job!’ is an instant fail – interviewers find this confrontational.”
Use the question to talk about goals instead. “An employer will want to hear that you have a sense of loyalty and that you’re committed to your career development,” says Lauren Armes, founder of Welltodocareers.com.
“Touch on professional goals, such as how you’d like to grow as a leader, but also mention any personal goals you have – whether it’s learning a new language or visiting new countries. Don’t be afraid to ask whether the vision you have is something the employer sees as possible for you within their organisation.”
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