Job Interview Checklist in 4 steps

So your CV and Cover Letter were definitely up to scratch and you’ve been invited to interview – congratulations! But the hard part isn’t over – not by a long way – as now your thoughts will naturally turn to acing the interview on the day.

Interviews can be highly nerve wracking, and more often than not, employers seek to test how you perform under pressure by asking difficult questions. However, there’s no need to panic; the key to success is simply good preparation. So, here’s our carefully created checklist to reiterate exactly what do before, during and after an interview. Although some of it may seem blindingly obvious, remember that many of us don’t interview often; a gentle reminder of the process will ensure you are prepared for each and every aspect of your interview, giving you the best possible chance of landing your dream job. Good luck!

1. Plan Ahead

There’s no way of predicting exactly what will be asked of you in an interview setting, however there are a few common questions that are generally asked at the beginning of an interview – designed to ease you in.

‘Talk me through your CV’ or ‘Tell me about yourself’ are often used to kick off an interview, so be sure to have planned a thorough answer which you can comfortably and confidently recite off by heart.

We recommend you start with a strong, direct statement such as ‘I have been a project manager for 7 years, and have 10 years’ experience with business projects within the banking sector’. Then go on to chronologically outline how you got to your current position on the career ladder, and all the experience you have gained along the way.

Make sure you thoroughly research the company by visiting their website, and just Google their name in general. Any articles, reviews or forums that come up will be well worth a read – anything you can drop into an answer that shows you have taken the time to research the company you wish to work for will work in your favour.

Furthermore, read the job specification in detail and try and match your skills to the skills desired by the employer. For example, if they specify they want someone with good presentation skills, then be sure to bring up the time you gave a fantastic presentation and clinched a client deal.

Finally, try to find out the format in which the interview will be conducted. Will it be a one on one situation or will you be facing a panel? Will it be more of a relaxed, ‘getting to know you’ situation with someone from HR or should you expect a grilling from the CEO?

Although you should prepare just as thoroughly for a more relaxed interview, it’s a good idea to find out what the interview setting will be to avoid being completely thrown off on the day.

2. Immediately before the Interview

First impressions really do count; the night before your interview you should have picked out your outfit and have it ironed and hanging ready for you to wear. You should also ensure your hair is tidy and cut, any chipped nail varnish is removed and your shoes are clean and dirt-free. Dressing well and being well groomed will not only impress your potential employer but will also increase self-confidence, meaning you are likely to perform better.

Work out the logistics of the day; find out the exact location of the interview and how you are going to get there, whether it be a walking, taxi, bus or tube. If you can, locate where you’re going on Google maps so you have an idea of where you're going and look for neardby landmarks. If you’re an especially anxious person, allocating extra time to get to the interview and finding a nearby coffee shop to take a deep breath and read over your notes one last time can be helpful.

Bring a copy of your CV, cover letter, and any notes on the company with you in a neat folder to glance over just before going in!

3. During the Interview

During the interview it’s very easy to get so lost in the moment and intent on being focused that you forget to react to your interviewer. An interview is a two way process and watching the interviewers body language and reactions to your answers will help you gage the kinds of things they are looking for.

Don’t ever zone out in an interview and recite what you think your interviewer wants to hear; you may even want to ask them how they find working there.

Finally, don’t rush! There’s no need to respond immediately to every question fired at you; stopping and thinking is perfectly acceptable and actually gives the interviewer the impression that you are fully considering your answers.

At the end of an interview, ensure you find out what the next steps will be. Will they call you? E-mail you? How long should you expect to wait to hear from them? All these questions should be asked, along with whether a follow up call is acceptable.

4. Post Interview

As soon as the interview is over it can be tempting to completely forget it ever happened, and go home and relax – after all that prep you probably deserve it!

However, post interview is a valuable period of time for learning, and you could be severely hindering yourself in landing your dream job if you fail to take full advantage of it! Try to go straight to a quiet place and write down as many questions you were asked as you remember. Then rank yourself on how you answered them and whichever you ranked lowest on, think about how you improve them for a future interview.

The following day, you can always give the interviewer a quick call if you have any further questions, or if you merely want to thank them for the opportunity. Keep the call short and polite though, and avoid asking if there’s any news, or if there have been any other candidates in etc.

The Results are In

If you find out you have been unsuccessful then don’t be disheartened, rather think of it as a learning experience which will allow you to perform better in the next interview you attend.

If you have been successful in your first interview, then great! Now it’s time to start preparation for the next round of interviews and your post interview dissection will really come in handy!
 

Good luck!