The job hunt is over, and interviews are here! Let's meet 4 candidates with unique interview prep needs:
Martin: "There are plenty of job offers out there, but it's this particular position I want to land. How do I stand out in an interview?
Juliette: "Interviews make me nervous. How can I be relaxed during an interview?
Basil: "I'm pretty relaxed but I need some tips to master the interview. What are your tips?"
Emma: "I want to give meaning to my work and be a positive impact player. How do I understand the company's commitments during the interview?"
Here are some tips for a successful job interview! We hope you'll find what you're looking for.
10 tips for a successful job interview
Whether it's for a HR, manager, CEO or team meeting, these 10 tips can be applied!
#1 Stand out 🕺
On this subject, to stand out, the idea is not to dress up in an original costume, tell 5 jokes in 45 minutes, or pretend to be "cool" to make people like you. Be honest and be yourself :) First of all, recruiters will likely see through your game. But don't worry! With your diverse skills, great personality, and under-recognized talents, standing out from the crowd is all about authentic self-expression.
#2 Be relaxed 😮💨
"Are you stressed? Stop it."
No no, we're kidding ;)
Stress before and during an interview can be very debilitating. There are two types of stress: helpful stress that motivates you, and harmful stress that can make you lose your nerve or freeze. To avoid this situation, there is no secret: prepare yourself;
The key to avoiding this negative stress is preparation, just like preparing for a performance. What are the company's mission, values, and areas of expertise? What challenges do they face? How can you leverage your strengths to contribute to their organization? What questions might they ask you?
Asking yourself these questions helps you anticipate the interview, understand the recruiter's expectations, and formulate confident answers. Even if unexpected questions arise, your overall preparation will guide you in crafting responses on the spot. And don't worry if you can't answer everything perfectly – recruiters don't expect you to be a know-it-all. After all, even within companies, employees don't know everything.
To further manage your nerves, consider some breathing exercises before the interview. Deep breaths can lower your heart rate and promote relaxation. There are even free heart coherence apps available to help you!
#3 Have a proper outfit 👕
The dress code will vary depending on the company culture. In sectors like luxury goods, consulting, or hospitality, a more formal approach is expected. To get a sense of their style, check out team member photos on the company website or social media pages.
Even if a casual look with sneakers, a t-shirt, and jeans is perfectly acceptable (it's not the 1960s anymore!), make sure everything is clean and presentable. For creative professions, a more original style can be a plus. While you can try a unique look in other sectors too, pulling it off successfully can be trickier.
Of course, there's one exception to the outfit rule: phone interviews!
#4 Be positive +++.
Forget the fake smile for an hour-long interview – it won't do! However, a positive and engaging attitude will make a great impression on the recruiter. Even if you have some doubts about your skills or get caught off guard by a question, you can recover positively.
Here's the key: highlight your motivations! For example, if you forget the company's specific values, you can mention something you remember from the video presentation, like their focus on authenticity, the CEO's impressive career path, or their ambitious goals. These are aspects that resonated with you and led you to apply.
To practice positive comebacks, rehearse answering questions alone, with family, friends, or even teachers.
#5 Prepare your questions 🤔
The questions asked during an interview can be asked by both the recruiter and the candidate. Not only does it show your interest and curiosity about the position and the company, but it also lets you know if you really want to continue the application process. Which team will you join? What will your salary be? What are your working hours? Can you visit the premises?
🌍 If working for an organization committed to social and environmental impact is important to you, you can also ask interview questions to understand their commitments. Does their internal communication effectively reflect these actions?
#6 Think of examples 🔎
When you applied for this job, you saw a strong fit between your skills and the organization's mission, right? Now, in the interview, it's time to showcase those commonalities with specific examples.
Be prepared to demonstrate your skills by providing clear examples. The interviewer wants to understand the practical application of your abilities.
👉 Here's an example: "I'm comfortable speaking in public. My five years of theater experience proved valuable during school projects, where I presented to large lecture halls of up to a hundred people.
#7 Communicate about your weaknesses 😫
Your interviewer may ask you to talk about your weaknesses or "areas for improvement" in the interview. No one is perfect and you certainly have a few! However, be careful what you say, because some of them could be detrimental to you, such as being late all the time, having difficulty motivating yourself or even getting to work.
Here are some examples of weaknesses that are not too devaluing:
- Difficulty prioritizing my tasks
- Lack of a specific skill related to the position
- Fear of public speaking
And here are some ways to express your weaknesses, in a positive way, without putting yourself 6 feet under;
- "I tend to fail at prioritizing my tasks and need someone to help me do that first and then get organized on my own."
- "I need a certain skill to do the job and I want to learn from you to develop it".
- "I am afraid of public speaking. I'm not closed to the exercise and if I were to do it, I would need practice or coaching to succeed."
#8 Projecting yourself in the organization 👁️
To make a good impression and to impress the recruiter during the interview, you can think about projects that you would like to implement in the organization. Maybe you even have a professional project in mind? You can talk to the organization to make the connection between them, you and your future project.
👉 Here's an example: "I'd like to get in the SSE because I like the values conveyed and I want to understand from the inside how you operate to then spread its values by joining a change management position in a traditional company."
#9 Train with family and friends or a coach 🏋️♀️
As mentioned above, to limit stress and ensure your interview, you can ask your friends and family to do a job interview simulation. Ask them to ask you trick questions, to give you feedback or to comment on your body language and your non-verbal communication. It's also important to be aware of this to limit certain tics that recruiters could focus on: you say "so", "uh", you often touch your bracelet, your hair... Being aware of this, through feedback from your friends and family, will allow you to work on it. Calling on a job coach to prepare your interview and get some advice can also help!
#10 Conclude the interview 👋
Before exchanging a good handshake at the end of the recruitment interview, your interviewer normally tells you about the next steps in the recruitment process. How many other candidates do you meet? What is the next step? When will you give me an answer? Don't hesitate to ask these questions if you are not given any indication of the next steps in the process.
All this without forgetting
⏲️ Punctuality
📝 To take notes
⏩ Be brief in your answers: if the recruiter wants to know more, he/she can bounce back
🚿 To have good hygiene. (Yes, we wrote that. You never know!)
To take action
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