Reframe The Way You Look At Interviews

An interview is there to help bring the best version of yourself to the table. So many people let the occasion get the better of them.

Let's help reframe the interview process, so nerves don’t get the better of you, but more an opportunity to take control and interact.

It all starts by not being overawed by the word interview and leaning into a conversation. We share advice from the team and for you to be prepared by changing the way you approach.

Ben Cooper, Head Of Automotive for Team Automotive, recognises a mistake people make. “Candidates can focus too much on what the role provides long term, rather than the immediate day-to-day. It’s not always about where the company is heading in the next five years!

“Lean into the first month, rather than the visions of annual milestones. For example, ask what a typical day will look like and who are the team you will be working with. During my interview with TeamJobs I wanted to know how I’d be managed. If it had a slant towards being micromanaged, then perhaps this might not have been the job suited for me.”

Sara Kitchener-Butcher, Technical Resourcer states that you can’t look at an interview as some sort of hierarchy, “When you do this, your whole mindset shifts to someone interviewing you. It is your opportunity to interview the company from your perspective. Similar to a date, you are finding out a bit more about each other. It’s all about looking to find a connection, rather than justifying your CV. When you can do this everything starts to feel more comfortable.”

Ebony Whelan, Recruitment Consultant, highlights that an interview is a fact-finding mission for you too, “If you are offered a job based on your interview, you don’t have to take it. It is your opportunity to see that the fit is there for you too. It’s not about asking what a company can do for you, but for you to understand everything that the immediate future can provide. Are you interested in training? Is working culture high on your list? Is working in a team important to you?”

Following up on Ebony’s focus on making sure you ask what you need to know, Karen Jayne Harris, Senior Consultant highlights that research will always have a role to play. “Your interview is a platform to discuss. Whilst learning about a company can give you the edge you need, know the people you will spend time with and go beyond the company website. For instance, from a look at an interviewer's LinkedIn profile, you can ask them about their job, the highlights so far and the challenges they’ve faced.”

“The more prepped you are, the more conversational the whole interview becomes. This helps as no one is nervous.”

There is no one strategy to approach when it comes to interviews. When you are comfortable in yourself, understand how the role can suit your skills and aspirations, plus a way to interact and get to know the world of others, this can help present the real you who is in control.