Interview skills – Tips for Mums returning to work

So here are a few simple tips to build your interview skills to help you on your way in an interview…

1. Analyse your audience.  Do some research on the company, the person interviewing you prior to arriving.  Ask yourself: “what will they be thinking, feeling and doing when I arrive?” and then work out what you want them to be thinking, feeling and doing when you’ve finished your interview.
2. Be Prepared .  Work out what they might ask you (take a look at the job description in advance so you can work out the qualities they are looking for) and then plan what you’ll say in your answers.  Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse!  You’ll feel a whole lot more confident if you know you have prepared well.
3. Build rapport .  Just remember –  It’s ALL about rapport! Rapport is a connection or relationship with another and it’s easier to build rapport with people who are like us.  We like people who are like ourselves.  So work out how you can match and mirror the interviewer – find common ground.
4. Believe in yourself.  It’s essential that you comfortably and confidently articulate your strengths. Explain how the strengths relate to the company’s or department’s goals and how they might benefit from your strengths. This will make you memorable – if supported with quantifiable accomplishments – they will more likely be believed. If you don’t believe you are the best person for the job then you can be sure the interviewer won’t either.  Work out what you want the interviewer to feel (desired emotion) after your interviewer and make sure you walk into the interview feeling it too.  If you lose track of your message at any time, keep coming back to that desired emotion and try to feel it again yourself as soon as possible.
5. Give yourself time to compose an answer. When responding to questions don’t feel that you have to immediately jump in with your answer.
6. The interviewer wants to know about you and your suitability for the position, so it is important to emphasize your achievements. Relate specific examples of where you have demonstrated your proficiency in certain areas. Make sure you refer to your actual role. Even if it was a group task, talk about your individual role, what contribution you actually made, and also how you interacted with the group – use “I” rather than “we”.
7. Make sure you do not criticize your current or former employer.
8. Put yourself on their team.  Link yourself with the prospective employer by using the employer’s name and products or services. Show that you are thinking like a member of a team and will fit in with the existing environment. Be careful though not to say anything that would offend or be taken negatively. Your research will help you in this area.
9. Image is often as important as content.  The way you look and the way you say something are just as important as what you say. Studies have shown that 65% of the conveyed message is non-verbal: gesture, physical appearance and attire are highly influential during job interviews.
10. Ask Questions.  The types of questions you ask and the way you ask them can make a tremendous impression on the interviewer. Good questions require advance preparation. Just as you plan how you would answer an interviewer’s questions, write out specific questions you want to ask. Then look for opportunities to ask them during the interview. It’s not a great idea to ask about benefits or salary too early in the process. The interview process is a two way street whereby you and the interviewer assess each other to determine if there is an appropriate match.
11. Maintain a conversational flow.  By consciously maintaining a conversational flow – a dialogue instead of monologue – you will be perceived more positively. Use feedback questions at the end of your answers and use body language and voice intonation to create a conversational interchange between you and the interviewer.
12. Ask for the job.  Many interviewers end with a request to the applicant as to whether they have anything they wish to add or whether there is anything the panel may have missed. This is an opportunity for you to end on a positive note and leave a favourable impression. You may think that everything has been covered. Even if this is so, it is worth making a succinct statement about why you are the best person for the position.
13. Keep an interview journal.  As soon as possible, write a brief summary of what happened. Note any follow-up action you should take and put it in your diary. Review your presentation. Keep a journal of your attitude and the way you answered the questions. Did you ask questions to get the information you needed? Prepare and send a brief, concise thank you letter. Restate your skills and what you can do for the company.

Try these tips to build your interview skills and you’ll be nicely prepared for interview success.  Best of luck!

Michelle Bowden is Australia’s Public Speaking and Influence expert.  She has facilitated her Influential Presentation Skills program over 550 times for many thousands of people and is known for her ability to transform everyone into confident, engaging and persuasive presenters so they get more of what they want in their life.  For more information please visit www.michellebowden.com.au