Job interviews are scary for even the most confident and ambitious people. This is especially true if you haven’t had one in a while. You might wonder, what if you make a fool of yourself? What if the questions are vastly different from what they were ten or twenty years ago? To make sure you stand a good chance of securing the role, here’s how to impress at a job interview when you haven’t had one in a while.
Be Open About Your Career Past
As someone who’s been in a career for a long time, you have the advantage of experience, so make sure you show that off. When the recruiter asks you about your career past, make sure to be as honest as possible (while leaving out the parts where you spilt coffee on yourself or referred to the company owner as ‘mate’).
Being honest about your career past also means telling the recruiter why you decided to leave your old job. Of course, one of the better answers here would be that you wanted to pursue a new passion, but it’s also OK to admit to other reasons, such as you were dismissed unfairly. If you have recently been unfairly dismissed from a job, consider seeking the help of employment law solicitors. That way, you’re more likely to receive the compensation you need, which will relieve some of the stress from your job hunt.
Research the Company Before Attending
You don’t want to show up to a job interview without knowing the first thing about what they sell and what their company values are. To make sure you don’t embarrass yourself, do plenty of research before attending. Remember, this isn’t just good for impressing at the interview; it is also beneficial for you, as you’ll have a better understanding of whether or not the company is right for you.
Ask Questions You’re Genuinely Interested In
Most recruiters can spot a question that’s just asked for the sake of it. To really impress, you must ask questions you’re genuinely interested in. Don’t be scared to ask about aspects such as salary and holidays – it’s completely understandable for new employees to want to know what their benefits and pay looks like! Just remember to ask other questions, too, such as what the values of the company are.
Keep Your Answers Concise
Recruiters don’t like candidates who waffle. To impress, you must keep your answers informative but concise. While you might think that you’re five-part story about the time you saved another employee from losing a client will go down well, it’s usually better to snip the fluff and get straight to the point. Your goal is to show the recruiter that you can think logically, take the initiative, work hard, and get on well with others, so tie those skills into your answers.
Be Positive, Friendly, and Engaged
A company doesn’t just want hard-working and intelligent employees; they also want staff to be friendly and enjoyable to be around, so show that off at your interview. A little laughter can go a long way!
Once you’ve got the ball rolling and attended a couple of interviews, you’ll wonder what you were so scared of.
