HSQ Recruitment Interview advice

Interview Tips
Job interviews are now conducted in a variety of different formats, these can include:

  • Traditional face to face meeting

  • Screening assessment

  • Telephone interviews

  • Skills testing interviews

  • Media platform meetings such as Skype or Zoom

  • Panel Interviews

Our highly trained and experienced Consultants will provide you with a comprehensive briefing on any client that we arrange interviews for and will support you throughout the interview process. We are here to help you through your interview journey.

How to make a good first impression

In the first few seconds of meeting you, an interviewer will make a judgement, so it’s important to make sure it’s a positive first impression. Dress for success, ensure that you are wearing a suitable professional outfit. When you first meet with the interviewer, smile confidently and where appropriate shake their hand. Avoid being late as this not only makes a bad impression, but it may cause you to become flustered or stressed.

How to research the employer before your interview

Pre-interview research is so important. If you’ve done your job interview preparation properly, you should be able to confidently demonstrate your knowledge during the interview and impress your prospective employer. Start by Googling the employer and checking out its website, social media profiles and other literature available online. You want to try and develop a solid picture of the company’s goals and what it stands for. Not only is this to prove to the employer that you know your stuff and are serious about joining the company, but also to help you devise any questions you might want to ask.

Promoting your skills and abilities

Though this point may sound obvious, promoting yourself is something that many find an uncomfortable or alien task. Remember, the interview is your chance to demonstrate why you are the best person for the job. Employers see a job vacancy as a problem, a gap that needs to be filled, so you need to market yourself as the solution to their problem. You should know your CV and the job description inside out. Use these documents to guide you through the interview, and pick examples of your experience or education that demonstrate why you would be successful in the role. Be sure to tailor each pitch to the job you’re applying for. Pick the examples that fit best with not only the role but also the company and its values.

Using the STAR method to answer interview questions

Once you have got to know your CV and the role you are interviewing for, you must prepare for interview questions. Each time you reference one of your skills you should support it with an example to prove to the interviewer that your skills are genuine. A popular technique for illustrating your skills is the Star Method:

Situation: Give some context to the story you’re about to tell, outline where you were and why you were there.
Task: Describe what you were doing and if you faced any challenges whilst doing it.
Action: Then explain the actions you took to complete the task and how you tackled any challenges you faced.
Results: Finally, reveal the outcome, this should demonstrate your skills, what you achieved and also anything you learnt from the situation.

Keep this method in mind and come up with a few go-to examples you can use in the interview. If you have done your research, you should be able to tailor these examples more specifically to the role you are applying for.

Improving your body language

Your body language will say a lot about you. Make sure you are aware of how you are presenting yourself and make your body language work for you. Using your hands a lot when talking can make your stories more animated and aid communication, but be careful not to go overboard with your gestures. You want to look confident and professional, so avoid slouching in your chair, and try to smile and maintain eye contact with your interviewer too.

Dealing with nerves

If you’ve done all the correct job interview preparation and you are feeling clued-up and confident, hopefully, you shouldn’t feel too nervous. This being said, interviews can be a bit nerve-wracking. Therefore, learning how to master your nerves so they don’t get the better of you is an important step. You should try to come across as calm and confident, so be aware of your breathing throughout. If you begin to feel stressed, take a few subtle deep breaths. Listen carefully to the interviewer so you don’t miss their questions, and focus on the answers you’ve prepared. If you build up a rapport with your interviewer, this can also help you to relax and feel more at ease around them. ​