The job search is done. Now it's time for the job interviews! We meet 4 candidates, each with a different need for interview preparation.
"There are plenty of job offers out there, but it's this particular position I want to land. How do I stand out in an interview?
Martin
"The interview is a source of stress for me. How can I be relaxed during an interview?
Juliette
"I'm pretty relaxed but I need some keys to master the interview. What are your tips?"
Basil
“I want to give meaning to my work and be a positive impact player. How do I understand the company's commitments during the interview ?"
Emma
Here are some tips for a successful job interview! We hope you'll find what you're looking for.
10 tips for a successful job interview
Whether it's for a HR, manager, CEO or team meeting, these 10 tips can be applied!
#1 Stand out 🕺
On this subject, to stand out, the idea is not to dress up in an original costume, tell 5 jokes in 45 minutes or pretend to be "cool" to make people like you. Be honest and be yourself :) First of all, because recruiters will probably see or smell your game and also because you have a lot of strings to your bow, a great personality and skills that deserve to be known. Standing out from the crowd is all about talking about yourself with authenticity.
#2 Be relaxed 😮💨
"Are you stressed?. Stop it;
No no, we're kidding ;)
Stress before and during the interview can be very disabling. There is useful stress, which boosts you, and stress that can make you lose your nerve or paralyze you. To avoid this situation, there is no secret: prepare yourself;
Just like performing in a singing or acting show... preparation for interviews is key. What are the company's missions? Its values? The subjects they deal with? What are their challenges? What are your strong points to apply for their offer? to apply in their structure? What questions might you be asked on the day of the interview? Asking yourself questions to prepare for an interview, understanding the recruiters' expectations and thinking about the answers to the questions that might be asked will give you confidence on the day of the interview. What if you didn't anticipate certain questions? Don't worry, the fact that you are well prepared will give you answers on the day of the face-to-face interview with the recruiter. And if you really don't know, it doesn't matter! The recruiter does not expect you to know everything about everything. Remember that even in-house, in a company, you don't know everything.
You can also do some breathing exercises before the interview. Taking deep breaths and relaxing will help slow down your heart rate and make you feel more relaxed. If you need help, there are also free heart coherence apps to guide you!
#3 Have a proper outfit 👕
Depending on the company, you will have to adapt to the dress code! For example, in the luxury sector, in consulting or in the hotel/restaurant industry, a more formal dress code will be preferred. To know how to dress, you can look at the style of the team members via the photos often present on the website or social networks of the organizations. In any case, even if you opt for sneakers, a T-shirt and jeans (which is perfectly fine, it's not 1960 anymore), make sure the sneakers haven't suffered too much from your last party! For some professions, like creative ones, you can dare a more original style. Of course, you can try originality in other sectors, an atypical style well assumed, why not, but the bet is a little more risky! Not surprisingly, there is only one exception for which you can skip the outfit, and that is for the telephone interview!
#4 Be positive +++.
Having a forced smile during an hour-long interview, no no. On the other hand, expressing yourself in a positive way will make the recruiter want to listen to you. Even if you doubt some of your skills for the position, or if you don't know how to answer a question asked during the interview, you can bounce back in a positive way. To ensure the interview, talk about your motivations!
For example, you are asked to recall the company's values and you don't remember them? Yes, but you remember the video presentation of your future employer, you liked his authenticity, his incredible career path and his ambition. That's what made you want to apply.
Again, train alone, with family, friends or teachers to learn to bounce back in a positive way.
5# Prepare your questions 🤔
The questions asked during an interview can be asked by both the recruiter and the candidate. Not only does it show your interest and curiosity about the position and the company, but it also lets you know if you really want to continue the application process. Which team will you join? What will your salary be? What are your working hours? Can you visit the premises?
🌍 If working in an organization committed to social and environmental impact is important to you, you can also ask your interview questions to understand the organization's commitments! Does the communication reflect the actions internally well?
6# Think of examples 🔎
When you saw this job opening and sent in your application, you thought about the similarities between you and the organization, right? Well, in the interview, it's these commonalities that you'll need to express, citing examples. Do you have this or that skill set for the job? Be prepared to argue each of them with examples. The recruiter will need to understand what you put behind each of your skills;
👉 Here's an example: "I'm comfortable speaking in public. I did 5 years of theater and it served me well in my school projects when I was required to speak in front of lecture halls of a hundred people."
7# Communicate about your weaknesses 😫
Your interviewer may ask you to talk about your weaknesses or "areas for improvement" in the interview. No one is perfect and you certainly have a few! However, be careful what you say, because some of them could be detrimental to you, such as being late all the time, having difficulty motivating yourself or even getting to work.
Here are some examples of weak points that are not too devaluing:
- Difficulty prioritizing my tasks
- Lack of a specific skill related to the position
- Fear of public speaking
And here are some ways to express your weaknesses, in a positive way, without putting yourself 6 feet under;
- "I tend to fail at prioritizing my tasks and need someone to help me do that first and then get organized on my own."
- "I lack a certain skill to perform the job and I want to learn from you to develop it".
- "I am afraid of public speaking. I'm not closed to the exercise and if I were to do it, I would need practice or coaching to succeed."
8# Projecting yourself in the organization 👁️
To make a good impression and to touch the recruiter during the interview, you can think about projects that you would like to implement in the organization. Maybe you even have a professional project in mind? You can talk to the organization to make the connection between them, you and your future project.
👉 Here's an example: "I'd like to get a foot in the SSE because I like the values conveyed and I want to understand from the inside how you operate to then spread its values by joining a change management position in a traditional company."
9# Train with family and friends or a coach 🏋️♀️
As mentioned above, to limit stress and ensure your interview, you can ask your friends and family to do a job interview simulation. Ask them to tease you with trick questions, to give you feedback or to comment on your body language and your non-verbal communication. It's also important to be aware of this to limit certain tics that recruiters could focus on: you say "so", "uh", you often touch your bracelet, your hair... Being aware of this, through feedback from your friends and family, will allow you to work on it. Calling on a job coach to prepare your interview and get some advice can also help!
10# Conclude the interview 👋
Before exchanging a good handshake at the end of the recruitment interview, your interviewer normally tells you about the next steps in the recruitment process. How many other candidates do you meet? What is the next step? When will you give me an answer? Don't hesitate to ask these questions if you are not given any indication of the next steps in the process.
All this without forgetting
⏲️ Punctuality
📝 To take notes
⏩ Be brief in your answers: if the recruiter wants to know more, he/she can bounce back
🚿 To have good hygiene. (Yes, we wrote that. You never know!)
To go further
👉The post-interview thank you email. What's it all about?
👉How to dress for a job interview?