Do you know why you didn’t get that job?

We’ve seen a lot of outstanding candidates miss out on roles.

Why?

Because someone better prepared came along.

Next time you’re going for a job, make sure you tick off this list so you don’t become the one who missed out.

#1: Research the company.

Google the company & understand what makes them tick. 

Read their ‘About’ page and note down their core values. Look up their social media pages and google any recent news stories about them.

Display your knowledge of the organisation by picking two or three unique points you find interesting or that resonate with you and weave them into your answers…

#2: Prepare for common interview questions.

Practice, practice, practice.

Read up on interview questions and prepare answers. We’ve detailed some of the main ones you’ll want to be prepared for in one of our blogs – ‘Common Interview Questions And How To Answer Them’. Use this as a guide.

You won’t be able to prepare for every question as interviewers like to throw in curve balls, but you’ll display 10x more confidence if you have decent answers for the main ones.

#3: Provide examples of work experience.

Review the job description and note examples of your experience that align with the requirements. Rehearse answers that link the two together to show how you’ve added value with that experience.

i.e. “I have [years] of experience in [skill/role] and have consistently [positive outcome produced]”. 

“I have three years of experience in social media management and have consistently doubled the average LinkedIn engagement rate for my company’s posts”.

#4: Know your salary expectations.

Discussing money can be a daunting conversation. But it’s a critical part of the interview process and employers will always ask for your salary expectations as every position is budgeted.

It’s better to discuss a salary range rather than a specific number, so you leave room for negotiation.

Use salary guides or visit websites like whatsmyworth.co.nz to get a sense of the market or if you’ve got a recruiter on your side, they will be able to have this conversation for you.

#5: Have questions ready for the interviewer.

Hiring managers agree that the worst answer you can give when asked, “Do you have any questions” is “No”.

Think of it as an opportunity to assess the organisation and whether you really want to work there. We’ve documented questions to ask in one of our blogs – ‘Ask These Questions In Your Next Interview‘. Have a skim through and write down three to ask.

Ps. We recommend using #10. That’s a must-ask question for every interview.

TLDR;

1. Research the company.
2. Prepare for common interview questions.
3. Provide examples of work experience that’s similar to the role’s requirements.
4. Know your salary expectations.
5. Have questions ready for the interviewer.