While the questions may be the same, the approach, the atmosphere and interview preparation require a new set of skills. Jobseekers, therefore, have to be willing to change their approach and crucially update their interview preparation processes to meet this format change.

Details of the Call

First things first, when you're selected for an interview – be it over the phone or via video call – be clear on details. Make sure you know

• What time the call is scheduled for
  - Who you’ll be speaking to
  - The number that will be calling you/app they’ll be calling from (Zoom/Skype)
  - Company contact information e.g. phone number, email (these may be necessary if the call drops)

These may all seem obvious however we can’t overemphasise how important basic preparation is. If the above information isn’t offered we encourage you to ask. Knowing the time of the call means you can be sure you’re in an area with a reliable phone signal or WiFi. Poor reception or lagging audio can be frustrating for an interviewer. Technology glitches can happen but it’s your responsibility to make every effort to anticipate possible problems.
Is your laptop prone to crashing? Borrow a more reliable machine from a friend or family member. Does phone signal drop in your home? Make sure you’re in an area with a strong constant signal. If you’re using a video calling app you’re not familiar with, download it before the interview and make a few test calls to familiarise yourself with the user interface.
Remember, you want to do everything in your power to make the conversation easy, free-flowing and enjoyable for both yourself and the interviewer and making sure the tech is working contributes enormously to a productive interview.

Research, Research, Research

No matter the format of the interview in-depth research of the company is essential to success. Almost all interviews – from the most formal to the more free-flowing – will include some form of the question: “What do you know about our company?”
In today’s competitive climate, reeling off the information on the company’s About Us page may not be enough to separate your application from other candidates. Of course, the company website should be where you begin your research but it should be treated as your jumping-off point. Check out the company's socials. Analyse the kind of information they share. This will give you a clear understanding of how the company wants itself to be perceived. Don’t stop at the business’s Facebook page. Check out their LinkedIn account. This is a great place to see who else is employed by the business. Who knows, maybe even one of your own connections is a current or former employee.

Check to see if the company uses any other social media accounts like Instagram or Pinterest. These socials will give you a better understanding of the company’s visual identity and customer-facing brand.

Practice Answering Questions and have Questions Prepared

Inevitably similar questions are asked during interviews. No matter the interview format you’ll likely be asked to walk the interviewer through your CV, explain why you left your last company and to outline why you are interested in this role, etc. This kind of regularity gives you the interviewee the chance to research your answers and even practice answering them. An ability to answer questions calmly and cohesively is something all managers are looking for in a new hire. By having prepared answers for some of the more common questions you’ll naturally project confidence.

Most interviews will end with the interviewer opening up the floor for your own set of questions. Always have a few questions prepared. If possible avoid asking the obvious. Instead, study the job description closely and ask genuine questions based on the role or the company. Remember an interview is also your opportunity to assess if this role is right for your career.

Interview Cheat Sheet

Let’s finish off with a cheat sheet of interview tips that can help your application pull away from the pack
- Use headphones during your interview (Background noise can be distracting for you and frustrating for the interviewer)
- Don’t be afraid of a little small talk (Most interviews start with a little chit-chat so follow the interviewer's lead. If they talk about the weather/the weekend, etc. follow up with a few light and breezy questions of your own)
- Have a notebook with your research summarised in bullet point form
- Make sure you have the right equipment and everything is working (make sure to check your laptop, headphones and software to ensure everything is working as it should)

Conclusion

Proper and concise preparation is so often the difference between success and failure in an interview situation. The above outlines some of the steps you can take to prep for a variety of interview types. However, our interview preparation advice can give you the edge you need to succeed in your career. Call us today for more information.

That is why we have put together this list of 3 tips for you to nail your interview no matter what career sector you are in.

Tip 1: Do Your Research

After scheduling an interview, the first thing you should do is research the company and the role in more depth. Finding out everything you can about the company will show the interviewers that you truly are interested in the role, as well it will arm you with material for any questions you might want to ask.

Doing background research may also give you an insight into the possible questions that the interviewers will ask. If you know anyone at the company, it is always a good idea to get in touch with them to see if they can give you an insight into the role and the interview process.

Tip 2: Practice

When we suggest practice, we don’t mean just practising what you will say and how you will answer the questions, but also practising your body language. You may not be aware of this but 55% of our communication is in our body language whereas only 7% is in the words we use, and the final 38% is in our tone.

A great idea is to video yourself; this way you can watch it back and see where you fall short. As well, make sure to practice standing and sitting up straight, making eye contact, and mastering a firm handshake.

Tip 3: Know Your Resume

This may seem like an obvious tip to know when preparing for an interview, but knowing your resume inside out is critical for interview success. However, it goes beyond just knowing what is on your resume. Of course, it is always imperative that you know what roles you have had but it is much more important to be able to explain what you did in each role.

Interviewers want to know what you did and how well you did it, so quantifying your resume for them is a great way to show your accomplishments.

Interview Training

When it comes to interviews, following the above 3 tips will help lead you to success. However, investing in interview training can also give you a great jump ahead of your potential competitors. Here at Potential Achieved, we will work with you to prepare you for your interview.

Contact us today to get started and secure that job you want.

The first half chooses to give background stories, the history of success, if you will. The challenge is there from the very beginning and I found it really got me to reflect.

The second half gives the step by step guide to becoming a Key Person of Influence (KPI). What I like about this is the clarity that it doesn’t happen overnight but if you take the steps as recommended, in the order recommended, you will be successful.
It has caused me to look totally differently at my life and my business. I have listened to it about 5 or 6 times at this stage and then went on to buy the book. I bought it because it is really a workbook, with lots of stories and challenges.

Potential Audience?

This book is written to challenge the status quo of each individual. ‘the world has changed and so must you’. It champions the idea that, as the world is not as it used to be, we must let go of old ideas, old concepts and embrace new ideas. If you want to grow and become known for your skill, talent, knowledge etc. then this is the book for you.

What did I learn from reading this book?

I learned that my best thinking of 5 years’ ago may be my baggage today. I learned I must have the courage to strip back to the core of who I am, what’s important to me, what I would love to be doing. I have always asked people if they have 10 years’ experience or one year’s experience 10 times over. This book really brought that question into sharp relief and I found myself asking that question of myself.

What tool/approach/method will I bring to my coaching practice?

I will bring a different approach to my questioning in my coaching practice. I can look at my clients who resist change or who worry about being overlooked or of new technology or taking a holiday and help them align their thinking and their fears to the results that they are looking for and what’s in the future. I will use questions to encourage them to think dynamically and maybe to redefine the ‘game’, their role, their chosen profession, path in life etc.

Potential Audience?

This book was written by a Coach for his clients, to encourage and work with them on their road to high performance. I believe it can be read, enjoyed and become a road map by everyone who wishes to be a high achiever.

• to look at high performance, asking difficult questions, pushing that bit further
• the difference between repetition (in order to learn new skills) and building on each stage which will challenge both myself and my clients beyond our comfort zones.
• use the 10 steps in ‘Progressive Mastery’ (based on Anders Ericsson’s ‘deliberate practice’).
• how to Sustain Success and continuously remind myself of some of the traps we can fall into. There is nowhere to hide.

What did I learn from reading this book?

I learned three key things from this book:

1. the best way of turning a question asked by a coachee back on themselves. It is ok to challenge.
2. asking the right question to turn what appeared to be a hard issue, into feelings.
3. challenging the tendency to look at what appears to be a ‘charmed’ life, with everything, externally, looking good.

What tool/approach/method will I bring to my coaching practice?

I will encourage my coachees to look at who they have surrounded themselves with and what effect those associations are having on their life and work (whatever their focus is).