Now for Your Interview
Now for Your Interview
Your CV gets your interviews, and interviews get you job offers. There’s lots you can do ahead of time to help you feel at ease during that big interview. Here are 10 things to consider, plus a few Q&A prompts.
Know the company. Who are they? What do they do? Why do you want to join? Use the internet, LinkedIn your Love & Tate consultant and ideal – talk to anyone you know who works there!
Know the job. Read the advert carefully and the job description from your consultant. What are the expected outcomes, and how would you go about achieving them? Your Love & Tate consultant can help you fill in the rest of the picture.
Know your strengths. What do you do really well in relation to this role? Think through a few examples to demonstrate it and your potential for development.
Top Tip: The day before or on the day of the interview, google the company name for articles or recent announcements from the company. Think how you can use that info even only in a conversational way eg. ‘I read you are opening a new branch/factory/restaurant, that’s really exciting – are you involved in that?”
Carry a bag/satchel, not a plastic bag: take examples of your work, spare copies of your CV, the job description, testimonials and any relevant certificates – most places will ask for your passport (ID check and right to work).
Dress for success. Smart, groomed, discreet jewellery, some token individuality but leave out the totally wacky clothes, unless going for a wacky job.
Arrive early. Booking in at reception can take 10-15 minutes. Be in ‘interview mode’ the minute you step in the door, make polite conversation with the person on reception, ask why they like it there or, read company literature on the coffee table.
Greet your interviewer by name and a smile. A firm handshake only if they offer their hand first.
Listen carefully to the questions. Keep the answers relevant and concise. Ask for clarification if you don’t fully understand a question or didn’t quite catch it.
Give specific examples wherever possible to back up your answers. Stress the similarities in what you have done previously – not the differences.
A few questions you could ask
- What are the main challenges for the department/in this role?
- How will I know if I've done a good job?
- Why has the vacancy arisen? What happened to the last person?
- If I do a great job, where can I go from here?
- Is there any special training given/what is the company policy on training generally.
- Are there any downsides to the job we haven't discussed?
And some they may ask you
- Why would you like to work here/have this job?
- What do you know about the company?
- What do you think your main contributions would be?
- What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
- Tell me about your biggest challenge? What did you find difficult? How did you overcome it?
- How would your friends/colleagues describe you?
Your CV gets your interviews, and interviews get you job offers. There’s lots you can do ahead of time to help you feel at ease during that big interview. Here are 10 things to consider, plus a few Q&A prompts.
- Know the company. Who are they? What do they do? Why do you want to join? Use the internet, LinkedIn your Love & Tate consultant and ideal - talk to anyone you know who works there!
- Know the job. Read the advert carefully and the job description from your consultant. What are the expected outcomes, and how would you go about achieving them? Your Love & Tate consultant can help you fill in the rest of the picture.
- Know your strengths. What do you do really well in relation to this role? Think through a few examples to demonstrate it and your potential for development.
- Top Tip: The day before or on the day of the interview, google the company name for articles or recent announcements from the company. Think how you can use that info even only in a conversational way eg. ‘I read you are opening a new branch/factory/restaurant, that’s really exciting – are you involved in that?”
- Carry a bag/satchel, not a plastic bag: take examples of your work, spare copies of your CV, the job description, testimonials and any relevant certificates - most places will ask for your passport (ID check and right to work).
- Dress for success. Smart, groomed, discreet jewellery, some token individuality but leave out the totally wacky clothes, unless going for a wacky job.
- Arrive early. Booking in at reception can take 10-15 minutes. Be in 'interview mode' the minute you step in the door, make polite conversation with the person on reception, ask why they like it there or, read company literature on the coffee table.
- Greet your interviewer by name and a smile. A firm handshake only if they offer their hand first.
- Listen carefully to the questions. Keep the answers relevant and concise. Ask for clarification if you don't fully understand a question or didn't quite catch it.
- Give specific examples wherever possible to back up your answers. Stress the similarities in what you have done previously - not the differences.
Know the company. Who are they? What do they do? Why do you want to join? Use the internet, LinkedIn your Love & Tate consultant and ideal – talk to anyone you know who works there!
Know the job. Read the advert carefully and the job description from your consultant. What are the expected outcomes, and how would you go about achieving them? Your Love & Tate consultant can help you fill in the rest of the picture.
Know your strengths. What do you do really well in relation to this role? Think through a few examples to demonstrate it and your potential for development.
Top Tip: The day before or on the day of the interview, google the company name for articles or recent announcements from the company. Think how you can use that info even only in a conversational way eg. ‘I read you are opening a new branch/factory/restaurant, that’s really exciting – are you involved in that?”
Carry a bag/satchel, not a plastic bag: take examples of your work, spare copies of your CV, the job description, testimonials and any relevant certificates – most places will ask for your passport (ID check and right to work).
Dress for success. Smart, groomed, discreet jewellery, some token individuality but leave out the totally wacky clothes, unless going for a wacky job.
Arrive early. Booking in at reception can take 10-15 minutes. Be in ‘interview mode’ the minute you step in the door, make polite conversation with the person on reception, ask why they like it there or, read company literature on the coffee table.
Greet your interviewer by name and a smile. A firm handshake only if they offer their hand first.
Listen carefully to the questions. Keep the answers relevant and concise. Ask for clarification if you don’t fully understand a question or didn’t quite catch it.
Give specific examples wherever possible to back up your answers. Stress the similarities in what you have done previously – not the differences.
PS. Have a stack of questions to ask them about the company and the role and contribution you could make. But salary, hours, benefits, holidays, early promotion and opportunities to work in the New York office are not first interview questions. – be patient, these can come later.
→ A FEW QUESTIONS YOU could ASK
- What are the main challenges for the department/in this role?
- How will I know if I've done a good job?
- Why has the vacancy arisen? What happened to the last person?
- If I do a great job, where can I go from here?
- Is there any special training given/what is the company policy on training generally.
- Are there any downsides to the job we haven't discussed?
→ AND SOME THEY MAY ASK YOU
- Why would you like to work here/have this job?
- What do you know about the company?
- What do you think your main contributions would be?
- What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
- Tell me about your biggest challenge? What did you find difficult? How did you overcome it?
- How would your friends/colleagues describe you?
Contact us
Please contact us if you have questions or clarifications.