Interview hints and tips

Here's some hints and tips to get you 'interview ready', from our experienced Talent Acquisition Specialists within our recruitment department.

Research the industry and company in advance of your interview. Visit the website and the socials. It will help you understand the business a bit better, get a feel for the culture, what it’s like to work here and help you to think about any questions you might want to ask in the interview. You’re also likely to get asked what you know about the company in the interview, so it’s always good to be prepared.

It may sound obvious but read the job description thoroughly and make a note of anything in there you want to ask about. The job description contains the qualifications, qualities, and experience that we are looking for, but it’s also helps you to really understand the role and make sure it’s what you’re looking for. The recruitment process is as much about us being right for you, as it is you being right for us.

You’re going to be asked about your experience, so make sure you prepare some answers in advance. Competency based questions are commonly used to understand what you have done as opposed to what would do. A good way to prepare for them, is to think about structuring your answers using the STAR method.

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action & Result. When answering a “Tell me about a time when…” question, begin by explaining the situation you were in, then break down the task(s) you had to do, what actions you took and finish with explaining the results you achieved.

Plan to arrive at least 10–15 minutes early. Work out your route to the interview location so you can be sure to arrive with plenty of time. Arriving early gives you some breathing space to collect your thoughts before the interview.

If it’s a video interview you’re attending, make sure you know how to access the link, some video interview platforms might need you download an App before you can connect, so make sure that’s all tested in advance, so you don’t flustered trying to get into to your virtual interview.

Plan what you are going to wear. Coming dressed smartly shows that you are serious about the position and helps to promote yourself in a professional way. This helps to make a good first impression.

Interviews can feel quite stressful, you can get so caught up thinking about how to answer a question that you may miss what is being said. So, try to actively listen. Don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat the question or ask for further clarification, if there is something in the question, you’re not sure of. And, if you need more time think, you can always ask to come back to that question at the end.

Plan to arrive at least 10–15 minutes early. Work out your route to the interview location so you can be sure to arrive on time. Arriving early gives you some breathing space to collect your thoughts before the interview rather than running in the door late feeling flustered. Remember to say hello to everyone you meet and always be polite.

At the end of the interview thank the interviewers for their time and ask what the next steps are.

Make lots of eye contact, don’t be afraid to show your personality and be yourself. Be sincere and sell all of your strengths.

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How to write a great CV

Your CV is one of the most important documents when applying for a new job. It’s your chance to grab the employer’s attention and secure yourself an interview.  Your CV needs to showcase your most impressive achievements and most attractive qualities. It needs to stand out and prove to the employer that you have the skills, experience and knowledge required for that role.

A good CV is also the best complement to your cover letter. Given how fundamental it is to the job application process, taking some time to ensure that you have a good CV is almost always worth it. Furthermore, a good CV usually makes a good impression right from the start, which can be vital, as in some cases a recruiter's decision to proceed can take less than a minute.

- Choose a suitable font and format. Don’t make it overly complicated with too many graphics and pictures. Whatever font /format you choose, make sure to use it throughout, not chopping and changing the style as this can make your CV look messy. Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri are all easy to read, make sure the font size is at least 11.

- Include headers and bullet points to break the sections up making it easier to read.

- Make sure your contact details are right at the top of the CV, so the employer doesn’t have to search for them.

- Include keywords that the job specification asks for.

- Remember to proof-read, make sure there aren’t any obvious spelling or grammatical errors.

- Don’t waffle, quality over quantity. Be clear and straight to the point.

What to include in your CV

Contact details – Include your full name, contact number, email address & link to LinkedIn if you have a profile. No need to include age, DOB, nationality or relationship status.

Overview/Introduction – This section is a few lines about yourself. Let the employer know who you are and what you are looking for.

Education History - You can add this after the overview/introduction if you’re early in your career or do not have much work experience. If you have a lot of work experience, you might want to change the order and show off your work history and experience first.

Work History – List your most recent jobs first. You can also include volunteering work here as well. Include the employers name, your job title, the dates you were employed and an overview of what you did in the role and what were your key achievements.

References – State ‘References are available upon request’. Don’t include other people’s contact details on your CV.

If you’ve had any gaps in employment, it's good to include a sentence explaining why. For example, ‘I was made redundant and was searching for work or went travelling', let the employer know this without having to question why there's employment gaps.

Your CV is the first thing an employer sees about you, so make it stand out!

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