In my time as a line manager, I have hired over 14 people and done more interviews than I can count! Some interviews have been great, and some just okay, which is understandable, as interviews can be nerve-wracking and uncomfortable. But, there are ways you can prepare to make them a little less painful. Here are 5 tips to help you ace your interview.

1.       Be prepared for all situations (pre-interview)

Understanding the company you are interviewing for may seem obvious, but I have seen countless candidates come in who don’t know the difference between our company and our Parent company. You don’t need to know every detail, but a half an hour of research goes a long way. Check to see how many people work there, what departments they have, how long have they been in business, and even what types of social activities they do. Hiring managers want to hire candidates who go the extra mile, and knowing these small details can really give you a boost on other candidates.

Another aspect of being prepared – if you apply for a multinational company where the official work language is different than the language of the country itself – be prepared to speak both languages in your interview! Practice at home, with a friend, a family member – practice until you feel confident.  I speak Hungarian fluently, but I do my interviews solely in English with candidates. It’s my way of seeing if the candidate’s English and speaking skills are right for the job.

2.       Dress the part

Technically, appearances shouldn’t matter in an interview as it is illegal to discriminate based on looks, but we all know they do matter. And I’m not talking about having the latest watch or a perfectly smoked-out eye - but it is important to look put-together. During the pre-interview (usually done via phone with a Human Resources representative), you should always ask HR what the dress code is, so you know how to dress during the interview. I made the mistake of dressing business formal on my first interview, and it gave the impression to my hiring manager that I was too serious. For my follow-up interview I dressed business casual, and received feedback that I seemed much more happy and relaxed.

Ensure your clothes are clean, stain free, ironed, and tucked-in properly. If you don’t want to curl or straighten your hair, put it up in a bun or pony tail. Guys, wear socks that are OKAY to look at when you are seated. Brush your teeth, comb your hair, and put on deodorant. We want to hire someone who is organised and put together, and if we can’t tell that by the way you present yourself, we might question whether or not you can be precise in your daily work. The devil is in the details.

3.       Bring example situations

This is probably my number one tip to anyone who goes for an interview! During the interview itself, have a few situational examples up your sleeve that you can bring up when a question is asked. For example, if you are applying for a people manager role but have never had people management experience – describe a situation when you dealt with a difficult co-worker and solved the issue, or when you had to manage an unhappy client. Examples show the Hiring Manager that you have potential in the role, even if you don’t have direct experience. Use examples from your previous work or from University. If you do have direct experience, use that to your advantage and talk about your most challenging situations and how you overcame them.

4.       Take your time, and be thorough

Although you should be prepared before the interview for all possible questions, there might be some that you didn’t know were coming. Take your time, take a breath, and think about your answer. We would rather wait a minute for you to gather your thoughts and hear a well-articulated answer, than for you to respond quickly for the sake of time. This is the time to think back on the examples you should have in your back pocket (point 3), and if needed, re-use them. When answering a question, use as many details as possible. When I applied for my first corporate job, I had no previous experience working in a team. So I brought up examples from my University days of working on projects in teams, and I used that to show my ability to work well with others.

5.       Ask questions at the end

You should come to the interview prepared with questions you will ask at the end. Some great questions to ask include:

What is the layout of the office?

Is the team multinational? Where are the team members from?

Are their opportunities for personal development and specialized trainings?

What is the career path for this position?

Asking questions makes you seem prepared and enthusiastic. But also, these are questions you should want to know the answer to! Think of 3-5 questions pre-interview, write them down, and ask them at the end. Guarantee they will give you an edge over other candidates, and the Hiring Manager will find you curious and prepared.

For any other interview-related questions, comment below or on our instagram page!