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Upon receiving an invitation to an interview, you may feel as if you have finally gained your chance to prove yourself and then, in a few moments, this is almost always clouded by uncertainty, stress and “what if?” questions about your performance on the day: “What if they do not like me?”, “What if I walk in there and I'm so stressed that I faint?”, “What if the panel are aggressive?”
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In this article, we will go through the preparation stages for an interview, highlight a few pitfalls to avoid and provide some guidance in promoting yourself on the day. Taking into account that readers will be at different stages in their careers, this article seeks to be generic yet applicable to various levels of clinical, research and industry positions.
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You should consider an interview as the time to shine and to sell yourself in an efficient yet warm manner. A job interview is essentially a meeting organised by a recruiter that is used to evaluate a potential employee for prospective employment. However, consider this meeting as a two-way process between the candidate and the interviewer.
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The interviewer wants to find out how well the candidate could do the job and fit in with their organisation and team and the candidate aims to show that they are the best person for the job and for the organisation but they also should aim to find out more about the work environment.
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Job interviews are usually face-to-face meetings; however, in recent years, telephone interviews and Skype interviews have become more commonplace. Interviews last approximately 45-60 mins, although telephone interviews may be slightly shorter.
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Depending on the type of job you have applied for and seniority of the role, the interview panel may vary between three and 12 members. Usually, the more senior the job, the wider the composition of the panel.
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In most cases, being invited to the interview usually means that you're qualified for the job; i.e. you meet all the essential criteria and most of the desirable ones (if not all of them). The interview is mostly about the panel finding out whether you can support what has been written on your application and how you can implement these things.
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The employer expects you to have knowledge about the organisation and the department you have applied for. We would recommend that you do a thorough search and read the organisation's website, social media profiles and key literature. Also check the news, competitors, history and opportunities of the sector.
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Figure out which aspects they are focusing on, what is important to them and how they appear online? Then revisit the job description of the job you have been shortlisted for and place this into the bigger picture of the organisation.
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Consider arranging a visit to the organisation to see the surroundings, talk to potential future colleagues and ask more about their processes. Get in touch with people who have worked at the institution or lab to find out more information. However, be cautious when talking to previous or current employees as they potentially may be biased by personal experiences.
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This translates into reviewing your skills, abilities and characteristics in detail and identifying those that apply to the potential future employer and job and also present them in a way that match their goals and needs. Imagine yourself in the actual position, what do you offer to the organisation? If you've reflected on this beforehand,
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it will make it easier to answer clearly and well during the interview. This gives an impression of good introspection. Try to remember relevant examples of applying similar skills in your previous job as it is always good to mention these during the interview.
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It is of vital importance not to claim that you can do/know something that you do not. This is dishonest and it may ruin the whole interview process. Imagine that you state that you can speak fluent French and, during the interview, the panel decide to switch the interview language to French; this will be a very awkward moment!
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Your references would usually come from people that are really busy; therefore, it is essential that you alert them that you'll be interviewing and that they may receive a call or an email to which they need to respond promptly. Depending on the relationship you have with them, you might also ask them what their overall impression is about you.
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However, bear in mind that a good referee will always send you a copy of their reference unless it is in the form of an on-line questionnaire; in this case, they will update you. Some interviewers might ask you what your referees will say about you and knowing something about it, again, shows good introspection.
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Inevitably you will need to do some brainstorming based on your detective work and introspection, during which you need to ask yourself the following questions: – What are the employers looking for? – How will they assess you? – What questions are they most likely to ask to help them judge these things?
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– How can you convince them that you are the best fit for the job and organisation? – What evidence have you got to support that?
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Practise with your mentor or an experienced friend. They should pretend they are the interviewer. After you are finished, request their feedback; what was done particularly well, what could have been done differently, whether there was anything you should change or leave out. In big institutions, “mock interviews” are often offered to candidates that have planned to move on and have applied for new jobs.
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Should this be the case with your institution, then this is definitely something you can benefit from. If your mentor or friend is not available and mock interviews are not offered by your institution, then you can practise in front of a mirror or, even better, film yourself!
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The first impression matters more than you would want and it is the visual expression that is first notable. Therefore choosing the right clothing is necessary. Everything from hair to toes should be clean and presentable. Focus on personal hygiene, shower right before the interview, have a clean shave and dress up nicely.
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Different organisations have different dress codes, so if you are uncertain, calling the central switch board beforehand is a good idea. Traditionally, this would be smart business attire, but if you are in any doubt, overdress rather than underdress. Often a good choice is a professional look that you are comfortable with.
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You do not want to be the person that turns cyanotic in front of the panel as the shirt collar is too tight! If you feel misplaced in your own clothing, it will easily show. Avoid alcohol consumption the night before and get plenty of sleep. In addition to the visual impression, make sure to plan your journey in advance,
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collect all the necessary documents to have them ready on the day, and arrive 15 mins earlier than the interview time.
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When entering the interview room, try to be relaxed, have a confident smile and make eye contact. When meeting the panel, introduce yourself with a handshake. If the panel is comprised of more than three members, then this may not be feasible and is not recommended. Instead, introduce yourself by making eye-contact with all panel members.
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Maintain a positive body language throughout the interview, speak clearly and in full sentences, smile frequently and make eye contact. During questioning, sit upright, listen to the questions and try to answer as clearly and concisely as possible. Also maintain good manners with any staff member or interviewers that you might meet before or after the interview, or even during the coffee break, lunch or dinner.
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Don't forget that while you are with any of the institution's or company's staff, you are being assessed, whether the setting is formal or informal.
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“Tell us about yourself”. Whether it is the first question or another similar one, use it as a moment to shine by giving examples how you achieved positive outcomes and what your contribution was. Don't forget to use “I” rather than “we” and highlight why you are the one they should hire.
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It rarely happens but the interviewer(s) may try to see how you respond under pressure by employing an aggressive line of questioning, or ask incoherent or non-sensible questions or questions that betray a lack of understanding in the topic. Don't ever let your temper get the better of you and make sure you remain calm and polite.
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Even if you have had enough with your previous job, you should never badmouth a former employer in an interview. If specifically asked (this may come as “why did you leave your last job?”) try to keep your tone somewhere between neutral and positive and try to emphasise on what you've learned in that job and what you're hoping to do in the future which will blend nicely with the new job you have applied for.
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On a similar note, do not talk negatively or disrespectfully about any person that you have worked for/with in the past. This is disliked by panellists and it may give the impression that you were the cause of the conflict or problematic relationship.
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This is not the time and place to bring up issues you may have with your ex-wife or children or any other family issues that affect your personal life. You are strongly advised to leave these outside the interview room.
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These words may mean nothing and if overused they will almost certainly create a negative impression to the panel so try to avoid them. Instead try to bring your enthusiasm for the job across.
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In the end you will be asked if you have any questions. Therefore, you should prepare some questions about the job, workplace, institution and personal development on the job. Even if the panel has covered most of what you wanted to know, ask a question that is relevant and thought-provoking.
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This can show that you're genuinely interested in the role and really listening to the panel. To not ask a question may make you come across as disinterested.
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After the interview, there is a seemingly endless time that you are waiting for the result. In the worst case scenario that your interview was an unpleasant experience, it is generally better not to openly complain about it to your professional circle or start making calls or sending e-mails.
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Regardless of whether you get the job or not, it is important to take notes (now that your memory is still fresh) and try to remember the questions and your responses to them. Focus on what you think went really well and what could have been said in a different way. You should reflect on what could have been done differently and how this can be achieved in the future.
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This brief self-evaluation gives you a better insight of your performance and will help you improve for future interviews. Seeking feedback from the interview panel is very helpful as it may provide you with valuable information that you might not have picked up in your self-evaluation.
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In the case you have got the job you can request the feedback informally over a friendly cup of coffee/tea with your panellists after you have started working in the organisation f you did not get the job, we recommend that you send a “thank you” e-mail to the panel and a kind request for feedback as this will give you a better insight and will help you work further on your interview skills.
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This should be sent within 24-48 h. Remember, try to use this feedback constructively and do not see it as a reason to argue with the hiring manager.
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Usually the majority of employers will get back to you within 24-48 h to let you know whether you have been successful or not. In the rare case that a response takes weeks or months, you should not stop attending further interviews for other promising jobs. It is a free market and you should always keep your options open.