Sitting in front of someone who has a big say in your next career move can make it easy to let nerves take hold and affect your behaviour. Rather than see this person as someone you’re trying to impress, there’s merit in focusing your efforts on building a connection. One of the most straightforward ways to achieve this is by turning the interview into a conversation, creating an ally. From this point on, it makes the rest of the process far less daunting, helping you to articulate your value and the interviewer envisage how you might engage with your future colleagues.
Knowing what to do to set yourself apart from other candidates during job interviews can be challenging. Often, it’s not enough to demonstrate your passion for the opportunity since everyone else will be doing the same thing. Beyond the obvious, there are other ways to set yourself apart while better understanding if the role is really right for you.
When you want to make a positive initial impression on a hiring manager, you’ll need to put together a strong elevator pitch that concisely highlights your background, skills, training, development and where you want to go in the future.
You’ll likely get the chance to use it, as one of the interview questions will inevitably be “tell me something about yourself.”
Your elevator pitch should really answer three questions:
Once you’ve used this formula to get your answer going, focus on what you can offer a new employer - your USP. Tell them how your skills and experience will help the organisation achieve its goals; the more specific you can be, the better.
Think about why you’re looking for a new job and use that to inform your pitch. Are you seeking more responsibilities or want to make the world a better place? Make sure the person interviewing you walks away knowing why their organisation is where you can see yourself thriving and adding significant value.
Most people prepare for all the tough job interview questions about their strengths and weaknesses, career history and their past job experiences. But what many are leaving on the table is the chance to envision themselves in the new working environment, asking questions to get to know their potential employer.
Don’t waste this valuable opportunity to ask about the company you could be working for, and even more so, show that you’re genuinely invested in the opportunity.
To help you prepare some good questions to ask in an interview, start by reading the job ad and description, think about what you prioritise in a workplace and note down any relevant questions. Here are some good sample questions to ask in a job interview:
These questions show you’ve put some thought into it and are interested in more than just what you can assume from the job ad or description. It also gives you a great opportunity to spot any red flags and weigh up some initial pros and cons.
Whether it’s conscious or otherwise, we all carry with us a set of deeply held personal values and belief systems. Equally as important as assessing the features and benefits of the role you're applying for, is understanding if you are aligned with the organisation's greater ethos. For some, this might not be a consideration, however, over time, this is a subconscious aspect of many people’s experience in a job that can lead to disengagement and poor performance.
To get up to speed on this aspect of the application process, it’s good to get clear on your internal value systems first. From here, you have a reference point against which to evaluate an organisation and if it’s the right fit for you. Start by scanning the company website or reading its annual report. This can help you formulate questions about the company strategy or work they do in the community.
Asking about the company strategy or corporate social responsibility activities can also help you to share more of your personality, interests and values. Some questions you might want to pose are:
Beyond standing out from other applicants, by asking carefully selected questions during a job interview, you’ll gain as much insight as possible to make an informed decision, should you get an offer. You’ll demonstrate to a potential employer that you’ve thought carefully about how you will fit into the company and role and how you might contribute to their future success.
The end of your job interview is quickly approaching. You think you’ve really nailed it. You might have even noticed the interviewer nodded along with several of your answers and have found out you had some mutual interests and bonded over that. You’re getting the sense that you’re a shoo-in for the job. So when the interview is wrapping up, to help avoid the awkward pause, it’s always a good idea to have a handful of questions in your back pocket.
Remember, some interviewers consider this a good test as they might be looking for someone curious, engaging and thoughtful. Always prepare by having at least three good questions up your sleeve before you walk into every interview - you’ll be glad you did. Going into every conversation, you need to expect a few tough questions, but being prepared ahead of time can give you the edge you need to move to the next interview stage.
16 Dec 2024