Whether you’re confident, nervous, or somewhere in between, being interviewed can be a nerve-wracking experience for anyone. Our Recruitment Consultants interview candidates, and interview-prep candidates, on a daily basis to ensure they shine when meeting their future employers.

In order to stand out no matter the interview, here are our top tips for a foolproof way to make sure you’re prepared no matter the circumstance. 

Research & Gather Information

Knowledge is power and the more you know about a business the better.

• Research each facet of the business (such as the website and social media channels) to prepare for questions such as “What do you know about the business?” or “What interests you about your business?”. By mentioning current news, awards, and public projects that the business is involved in you’ll be sure to leave an impression on your interviewers.
• Take the time to learn the company values, and weave these into your answers where possible.

Prepare key examples from your own experience

• Understand the type of interview you're entering into:
• Behavioural Interview: Focuses on your experience and behaviours in past roles. You'll need to provide examples of how you've handled situations and challenges in the past.
• Panel Interview: You'll be interviewed by a panel of 2+ interviewers simultaneously.
• Traditional Face-to-Face Interview: This is the most common type of interview, where the candidate meets with one or more interviewers in person to discuss their qualifications, experiences, and fit for the role.
• Case Interview: Commonly used in consulting, finance, and other analytical roles. Candidates are presented with a hypothetical business problem and asked to analyse the situation, identify key issues, and propose solutions.
• Group Interview: Multiple candidates are interviewed together, often in a group discussion or activity format. It's used to assess teamwork, communication skills, and how candidates interact with others.
• Use the STAR Format to answer questions in a structured manner:
• Situation: Describe the situation, provide context, set the scene.
• Task: Explain the challenge that you were faced with.
• Action: What actions did you take to address the situation. Focus on your contribution.
• Result: Finally, what was the result or outcome of your actions? Try and quantify where possible.

Set a plan of action for the day

• Think about each detail that may affect your arrival time on the day, even things such as the clothes you’ll wear and the route you’ll take. Always account for late public transport/finding a parking space or any other curveball life may throw at you. 
• Aim to be there 15 mins early to ensure you’ll have time to centre yourself and settle before you meet your potential future employers. Be sure to smile and be polite to reception.
• Be sure to dress professionally and present yourself well.

Show Engagement & Clarity

• There is no one else out there like you. You’ll have 45 mins to an hour to really showcase what you’re made of. The interviewer will want to see how you interact and how you may fit in with the team culture. 

Curiosity through Questions

• Be curious and ask questions. This is the time you have the room and can ask questions and probe the information you’re after to gain clarity on any blanks.
• Asking questions shows a true interest in the role; ask questions based on the business, their future aspirations, the team culture, and the role itself. 
• Come to the interview prepped with some questions to ask, to avoid having nothing to ask. Check out some examples below.
• Can you tell me more about the culture at the company?
• Are there any concerns from your end on my ability to do the role?
• What is your favourite thing about working here?

For more tips on how to interview like a pro or to speak with a BROOK consultant, contact us at connect@brookrecruitment.com.au