Theres no denying that a job interview can be a nerve-wracking experience. However, with preparation and determination, you could find yourself landing your dream role.

Check out our universal top tips for standing out from the competition and acing any interview:

1. RESEARCH THE COMPANY & THEIR INDUSTRY

When walking into an interview, it is imperative that you have a good knowledge of the company. There’s nothing worse than sheepishly shaking your head when the interviewer asks if you know anything about their business. Understanding what they do and the services they offer is essential… but that’s only the first step.

Visit the company’s website and familiarise yourself with their missions and values. This will help you to gain an understanding of the company’s culture and what’s important to them. It will also enable you to tailor your answers to the dreaded “so, tell me about yourself” question.

You should also research the industry- ensuring you’re aware of the organisation’s competitors, along with any recent developments or upcoming challenges.

Doing your homework before your interview is essential to standing out amongst a pool of other candidates. Not only will your knowledge impress your interviewer, it will also ensure that they remember your discussion.

2. BUILD A PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH YOUR INTERVIEWER

It’s a well known fact- employers tend to hire people they like and can see themselves working with. Therefore, building a rapport from the get-go is a fantastic way to stand out and be remembered.

Knowing your interviewer’s name on arrival is crucial and shows you’ve done your research. Finding a common ground of interest within the first few minutes is also a great way to break the ice and build a relationship. For example, does their office make it obvious that they’re a fan of a particular spot? Acknowledge this and share your own interests.

Feeding your interviewer with small tidbits of information about yourself will help them to envision you as part of their company.

Following your interview, end the day by sending an email to your interviewer. Thank them for their time, express your enjoyment of the discussion, and let them know that you look forward to hearing from them.

3. PREPARE ANSWERS FOR COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

It can be unnerving trying to anticipate what you’ll be expected to discuss in your interview.

Just remember, the interviewer will be assessing whether you’re the best candidate for the job. Therefore, you can usually expect to be asked the following:

Why do you want the job?
What are your strengths/weaknesses?
Do you have the relevant skills to do the job successfully?

Preparing answers to these common questions in advance will boost your ability to speak about yourself clearly and confidently.

It’s also a good idea to make yourself familiar with the skills required in the job specification. Take the time to note down examples of times you used those skills to overcome challenges at work or in your personal life. The STAR technique is a brilliant framework for this.

Remember, there’s no shame in taking a moment to think your answers through, or even asking your interviewer to repeat the question. It’s much better to give a well thought out answer in your own time, than to rush and blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. Relax. You’ve got this!

4. HAVE YOUR OWN QUESTIONS

After an interview, your interviewer is likely to ask you if you have any questions. Saying no to this could make you appear uninterested, or as though you haven’t been listening. We therefore recommend that you always have a couple prepared just in case.

Here are our favourites:

“What will a typical day in the role look like?”– Asking this question shows the interviewer that you can already see yourself working with them.

“What is the typical career path for someone in this job role?”– No company wants to employ someone with no ambition or drive. Asking this question insinuates that you’re passionate about your career and are wanting to be great at what you do.

“What are the next steps of your interview process?”- This will provide you with important information about what to expect next, ensuring you don’t sit by the phone all week for a call that won’t come until friday. It will also tell the interviewer that you’re keen to move forward in the process, reaffirming your interest in the role.

5. DON’T GIVE UP!

It’s important to accept that no matter how well you prepare, you likely won’t land every role you interview for.

In some cases, you may have interviewed brilliantly, but there was simply someone better. Don’t let this knock your confidence – it just means that this particular role wasn’t for you, and something better will be out there.

In other cases, you may feel that you didn’t perform as well as you could have. See this as a learning curve and as good practice for the future. We’d suggest writing down three areas you’d like to improve on. This will ensure you go into your next interview feeling even more prepared. Believe in yourself! The right role is out there waiting for you.

MORE ADVICE…

For further interview advice, check out our other blog; ‘5.5 Things Not To Do At An Interview’

We want all of our candidates to be the best that they can be when it comes to interviews. Therefore, our consultants will work closely with you to ensure that no stone is left unturned when preparing for an interview with our clients.

For assistance in finding your next role in the maritime or energy sectors, please get in touch today. Alternatively, we are always looking for new talent to join our team at Stellamar HQ.

Author: Charlotte Dixon, Digital Campaign Manager

5 TIPS TO ACE YOUR JOB INTERVIEW