Winning interviews Mark Elliott Group Head of Internal Communications Standard Life

Confidence

When are you confident? When you really know your stuff When you’ve prepared well When you’ve thought about what will come up When you figure out how to handle your nerves When you’ve revised and rehearsed When your plan comes together When you’re in control

Winning interviews 1.Do your research 2.How to look 3.Your presence 4.Planning what to say 5.The obvious stuff 6....Confidence

Find out as much as you can The organisation – What do they do, make? Who are their customers? – Where are they based? What are they like? The industry – Who are their competitors? How do they compare? – Is their line of business doing well, badly? The job – Job description, HR department, recruitment firm The interviewers themselves – Company website, LinkedIn, Facebook etc

Where to look Internet Books, careers library Careers fairs, milk rounds, etc Ask people who might know any inside details about this employer – teachers, family, neighbours, people who work there

Look sharp First impressions really do count People will notice the smallest details about you! Dress at conservative end of your comfort zone Get an interviewer you know to rate your look! If you look good, you will feel confident

Look sharp First impressions really do count People will notice the smallest details about you! Dress at conservative end of your comfort zone If you look good, you will feel confident What people think of you How you look% How you sound% What you actually say%

Look sharp First impressions really do count People will notice the smallest details about you! Dress at conservative end of your comfort zone If you look good, you will feel confident What people think of you How you look75% How you sound19% What you actually say6%

Really connect with the interviewer Show “presence” Eye contact, eye contact, eye contact! Active listening Body language – Firm handshake – Nod, smile, use your face, use your hands – Keeping hands apart helps you stay calmer – BBC (Bum at Back of Chair)

Think deeply about what to say...If you were a product on the shelf in a supermarket aisle, how would you stand out and attract shoppers? Research yourself! Think about yourself. Really know yourself. What are you like? Why are you unique? What strengths? Why are you there? Why are you interested? Why do you really want this? Why are you the best-suited person for this job? What are they getting if they choose you? Where are you heading in life? Where do you see yourself in 3 or 5 years time? What will getting this job enable you to go and do afterwards? How will you keep learning in the job ?

Link your story to what they want From the job description and what you’ve discovered from your research, figure out what the key requirements of the job are. The “Tell me about yourself” Question... What’s Your Story? Develop a short, punchy way to tell your story – what you’ve done to date... Make sure it matches the job requirements. Max 2 mins Put together a set of 5-6 mini-stories about stuff you’ve done that paints a positive picture about you. Each mini-story must be direct evidence that you meet a requirement of the job. Max 1 min each. Try out your plan by doing a rehearsal with someone you trust

Interview questions Predict the obvious Qs – like exams and past-papers Hint... the obvious Qs are right there in job description! Develop credible answers based on your 5-6 mini-stories Don’t give “literal” answers to their questions: – the questions tend to be just a tool to get you talking – do answer the question... but move quickly onto one of your mini-stories that shows you meet job requirements If you don’t understand a question, say so Rehearse the Q&A with your someone you trust Make sure you ask some pertinent questions yourself In a way, you are interviewing them as much as they are you

Remember the basics Revise for an interview like for an exam Leave time before you travel to do a final run- through of what you plan to say Plan your journey and build in time for delays Maybe do a dry-run journey beforehand Memorise the interviewer’s name Take your CV and photo i.d. in case they need it Arrive for the interview on time – 10min early

Winning interviews Mark Elliott Group Head of Internal Communications Standard Life