10 tips to interview success!

Working in a recruitment agency I spend a vast amount of time speaking to people who are looking for a new job.

The reasons always vary. Where some individuals crave a fresh challenge, others are looking for a new location or additional money. Regardless of the deciding factor, job seeking can be a stressful time for people.

Using an agency to assist you finding a job can be an advantage as your recruiter will guide you through the process. At Morgan McKinley we have a dedicated Talent Acquisition team who look after our internal interview processes. I am the Talent Acquisition Specialist for our Irish and Dubai offices. As a large component of my role involves interviewing candidates, I am well aware of how these processes vary from company to company, and also how tough they can be.

Here are my 10 tips for ensuring a successful interview process

Follow up on the applications you have made. If you are genuinely interested in a role don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and reiterate your interest to the company or the recruitment agency handling the role.
Know your salary expectations. This question will be asked at some stage. It is good to have given it some thought and researched salaries in your industry.
Make sure your professional online profile (ie. LinkedIn) is up to date with your recent information and that all your testimonials are visible. Equally, ensure your personal online profiles are set to private.
Make yourself available. If you are looking for a new role you will need to be available for interviews. This may require arranging time off work or being available during lunch times.
Be punctual. When attending interviews ensure that you arrive 5-10 minutes early and are aware of where the interview is taking place.
Do your research. Before your interview do thorough research on the company outside of just the company website. Utilise websites such as Glassdoor and LinkedInto get a comprehensive overview of the company.
Say thank you. After attending the interview it is often a good idea to send an email thanking your interviewer for their time. If you have applied to a company directly send it to your interviewer, or if you are using an agency send it to your recruiter.
Be patient. Interview processes can take time. Companies are committed to finding the right people for roles and an interview process can often involve multiple stages.
Get your references ready. Ensure that you have contacted your referees and that they are ready to provide a reference.
Seek constructive criticism. At the end of the interview process, if you have not been successful, ask for constructive feedback and end things positively. You may cross paths with your interviewer again or you may want to apply for another role in the company in the future.