Interview Prep Pack
Being recruiters, we’ve sent many people off for job interviews and have heard a lot of feedback from both parties. With that being said, it’s about time we put together a simple and easy to follow resource pack delving into some of the advice we regularly give out.
Have examples ready to go.
Go through the job description in detail and comb through the key responsibilities. You should have at least one example to talk about for each bullet point.
Sometimes, you might not have something for every single point, but you should still be ready to address it with something from your experience. Can you think of any transferable skills? Another time that you picked something up quickly?
Use the internet to your advantage.
We will always let you know in advance who you’ll be meeting with for your interview. So, try using this information to your advantage by looking them up and checking out their LinkedIn profile. There might be something there you can bring up for some small talk!
“I saw on your LinkedIn profile that you’ve worked here for five years. What are the biggest reasons you love working here?” shows you’ve come prepared and makes for better conversation than saying “How long have you worked here?”
Get Familiarised.
If it makes sense for the role you’re going for, try doing some research into some of their past campaigns- Do you have a favourite?
Have senior team members written any articles or done any interviews recently about the organisation and the business’s future plans? Subtly referencing someone within the organisation is a perfect opportunity to show that you have prepared.
We recently interviewed Cherie Clonan, Founder and Creative Director at The Digital Picnic. And now, we’re on the lookout for a new Head of Social to join their team. Being proactive enough to have seen the interview and then mentioning it in the interview shows you’ve done your research and allows you to get a touch more personal!
Also, get familiar with the company’s mission statement (if they have one) and the values they hold. If you can share examples of your experience and connect it to their mission/values, you’ll be setting yourself up for success!
Be thorough.
So you’ve done all your preparation and have made it to the interview. If you think there might be more you could add to past answers, a good thing to ask towards the end of the interview is, “are there any answers you want me to go back on?”. Asking this gives you a chance to redeem yourself and mention something you might’ve forgotten to say earlier.
Show some genuine interest!
When they ask the inevitable “Do you have any questions for us”, it would be great to come prepared with something you’d genuinely like to know (that isn’t easy to find online)! Try asking about their favourite campaign, the company culture, or the best part about working with the company!
Leave a lasting impression.
You might’ve heard this before, but that’s because it works! After the interview, you should email them to thank them for their time and let them know you enjoyed meeting with them, but keep it short and sweet!
Sometimes, hiring managers could have two really good candidates to choose from, but one emailed and the other didn’t. You’d be surprised how often people miss out on doing this!
Even more advice:
- Think of a time that’s challenged you and have examples ready
- Do you have an example of a campaign or piece of work you’re proud of? Get ready to bring that up!
- Bring your portfolio/examples of your work with you.
- Think about and write down your strengths and weaknesses and have an answer prepared for both.
If you have a digital portfolio, be resourceful and email the link just before the meeting. If, however, you’re doing a virtual meeting, have it open in another tab just in case you need to screen share- it helps to have it ready to go!
Regarding your weaknesses, please don’t say “working too hard”. Don’t be afraid to go in deep; just be prepared to explain how you’re working on improving yourself!
In summary
After reading these tips, you should be in a much better place to ace that meeting and impress your interviewer! The key is being prepared and showing some genuine interest. Even if you have other interviews, you should be treating this as the only and most important one!