Research, Research, Research !!!
I often get asked by candidates “What is the client like?” or “What areas should I concentrate on to impress?” Questions that are good and show that they want to make sure they make the right impression, but I also sometimes hear from clients that the candidate came into the interview and knew nothing about them or the role even though as a consultant I had pointed them in the right direction. These are obviously the poles apart elements of research that you should do before going to interview, but the amount of research you do is critical to success and failure and in my opinion shows your level of passion for wanting a job.
By the time you get to interview stage it is highly probable that you are on an equal skill level with the other interviewees, and so research is a key area to make an impact. So below are some points on what you should look to do to get the best preparation for that interview:
1. Learn about the company - Knowing about the company nowadays is a free and simple thing to do with the internet showing you everything about the company, what its achieved and even who you are meeting (especially with Linkedin).
2. Visit the site - Other elements of research which are easier in public operations like hotels, restaurants and bars is to visit the operation, experience the service, pre sales where possible and get a feel for the general atmosphere, what the staff were like and how your overall experience was. Go to the interview with constructive and honest views as these will show for your eye for detail, and shouldn’t offend then.
3. Use your consultant - This may be merely talking to your recruitment consultant if you are going via a consultancy, they will probably know the client and their style of management, or areas that they focus on in interviews, it is good to have a sounding board when running ideas past them on how to approach the interview as well.
4. Questions - Although you are being interviewed, don’t forget, the interviewer will always ask you for your questions at the end of the meeting, make them useful, creative and of a level that shows you are interested, not “how many days holiday do I get”.
5. Your career - Go through your CV prior to your interview, even with friends or family and think about times in your career when have come up against difficulty, or created something that has saved the company money, or something else where you have made a difference, the client needs you to be able to throw scenarios back at them, it shows that you are decisive in your thought process and capable of doing the job.
3. Use your consultant - This may be merely talking to your recruitment consultant if you are going via a consultancy, they will probably know the client and their style of management, or areas that they focus on in interviews, it is good to have a sounding board when running ideas past them on how to approach the interview as well.
4. Questions - Although you are being interviewed, don’t forget, the interviewer will always ask you for your questions at the end of the meeting, make them useful, creative and of a level that shows you are interested, not “how many days holiday do I get”.
5. Your career - Go through your CV prior to your interview, even with friends or family and think about times in your career when have come up against difficulty, or created something that has saved the company money, or something else where you have made a difference, the client needs you to be able to throw scenarios back at them, it shows that you are decisive in your thought process and capable of doing the job.
Overall good research can be the difference between getting a job and being one of the nearly candidates. Make sure next time you have an interview you do your research and the job you are looking for could be yours.
