Your Dream Job Interview Tips
Congratulations, you’ve landed an interview for your dream job! Here are some of my favourite interview tips to help you shine when you get there.
Interview prep is an important part of the career coaching that I conduct with many of my clients and we do this once the client is super clear about what their dream job looks like.
Completing the clarity work first means that my clients can often avoid applying for hundreds of jobs that might be ok and adopt a much more effective job-searching strategy.
Interview Tips – Preparation
How you prepare for your interview is as important as how well you perform when you’re in the interview because it’s what makes the difference between your nerves being off the scale or manageable.
1. Research the company
How will you even know that this interview is for your dream job if you haven’t researched the company? This interview tip is not about learning the company website inside out either. There are many other ways you can check out the company in advance. For example, you could search the internet for relevant news stories and check out what other people, including ex-employees, have to say about the company on Glassdoor or even X (Search #CompanyName).
2. Prepare your questions
Remember, an interview is a two-way street. It’s as much about you finding out whether this is your dream job as it is about them deciding whether you are their ideal candidate. So, prepare questions to ask them and write them down in a smart notebook that you can take with you on the day.
3. Prepare your stories
Take time to think about the highlights of your career to date and how these might be relevant to this opportunity. Choose the most relevant stories and write them out using the STAR structure. (Situation, Task, Action, Result.) Write prompts for your stories in your notebook.
Interview Tips – On the Day of the Interview
On the big day, remember that you only have one chance to make a great first impression.
4. Be early!
Lateness is not a good look and if you’re late, you’ll be flustered as well so please leave loads of time for your journey. Put the correct address in your satnav and make sure you have change for parking in case the app fails.
If you’re using public transport, take the earlier bus/train than the one you think you need to allow for possible delays.
If the interview is online, check for updates on Zoom or Teams and log on at least 5 minutes before you’re due to start. (Check the position of your computer beforehand too so that the interviewer’s first impression isn’t a pile of dirty washing or the inside of your nose!)
5. Be polite to everyone
Manners cost nothing and a smile is worth a fortune so be polite to everyone, the cleaner, the receptionist, other team members and customers. You never know who is going to report back to the hiring manager later on.
6. Relax
Reciting a simple three-word mantra can help you relax and stop negative thoughts from entering your head as you wait to go in for your interview.
Try repeating: “Breathe, smile, listen” in your head, slowly and calmly. Ah, that’s better.
Interview Tips – During the Interview
The interview has started and it’s important to remember that this is simply a conversation between adults who want to see if they would like to work together.
7. Greet the interviewer(s)
Smile and greet the interviewer(s) with a firm handshake. Not so firm that you crush their knuckles but firm enough to show your maturity and confidence.
8. Listen to the questions
Open your notebook to the page where you have prompts written down for some of your best stories. Listen carefully to each question and take a moment to decide how to answer. Which one of your stories demonstrates best what they are asking for? If you need some clarity, ask for it.
9. Use the STAR structure
When answering a question, use the *STAR structure to keep it concise and to stop you from waffling. *Situation, Task, Action, Result.
Try to ensure that you use specific, real-life stories with a fantastic and relevant result. There is a world of difference between knowing the theory of what should be done in a situation and being able to do it. Your interviewer is looking for evidence that you can do it!
10. Ask your questions clearly
When asking interviewers your questions, ask one at a time and ask questions that will help you gain a better understanding of the role or the company rather than asking about pay and benefits. There are some great examples in my ebook.
11. Ask for the job!
At the end of the interview, try to leave the interviewer in no doubt that you want the job. There are several ways to do this but a cheeky “When do I start?” with a twinkle in your eye can have the desired effect!
Alternatively, you could say: “Thank you for seeing me today. I’ve enjoyed meeting you and I would love to become part of your team.”
It is perfectly acceptable to ask when your interviewers will be making their decision at this stage too.
12. Hold your head up
When it’s time to leave, remember to thank the interviewers for their time, shake their hands and keep smiling. Say you are looking forward to hearing from them and leave with your head up and an air of confidence. You did well!
13. Follow up
Always send a thank you note to follow up the day after the interview. Hand-written if your handwriting is up to it; neatly typed otherwise. An email may suffice but just consider how many emails we get every day compared with real letters. Which would stand out the most?
14. Connect
Whatever the outcome of the interview, you’ve just made some new professional contacts so connect with them on LinkedIn if you haven’t already done so.
Good Luck!
I hope you found these interview tips useful. As I said, there are more tips in my ebook and I’m always here for you if you’d like one-to-one interview prep.
If you have a favourite tip from the list or one of your own you’d like to share, please leave a comment on this post. I always love to hear from you!
