You’ve bagged yourself a job interview and you know that you want to make a good impression. What do you do? Panic? Well, that’s what most people do anyway (we’ve been there and got the sweaty t-shirt). Especially when you only have 7 seconds to make a good first impression.
Actually, the key thing to really remember with interviews and creating the best atmosphere is that you’re talking to a person. That might sound a bit weird, but the real secret to succeeding in an interview is connecting with the person/people you’re talking to and making yourself familiar and likeable to them.
After all, “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.”
On that note, we have a couple more tips to help you create the best interview atmosphere possible, make a good impression and ultimately land that dream job.
Get The Basics Sorted First For Impact
Now by basics, we really mean basics. Show up on time, turn off your phone, listen to what they’re actually saying. If you’re on a video call make sure your wifi is great and there’s no background noise etc. Find out what video calling software you’ll be using ahead of time and get acquainted with it. Test your audio, and make sure that shit works.
Basic interview etiquette, but you need to nail this before even thinking about the next steps. Doing this will also help you feel more comfortable and mentally ready to smash it, that’s psychology baby!
Do Research On The Company Before The Interview
Yes, yet again we’re talking about research. You should already have a pretty good knowledge of the company, role and team from when you applied, but it’s time to get even more specific. An interview is your chance to show your enthusiasm for the company and the role, and what creates a better atmosphere than passion and excitement? This is THE way to create a good impression in your job interview.
If you’re doing a video interview, use our top tip of sticking post-it notes with key info you want to remember or chat about around the screen to make sure you don’t forget anything. Not only do you need to do your research, but you need to prove to them you’ve done it by referencing things directly.
If there’s no time during the interview, use the opportunity at the end when they ask if you have any questions to slip in some of that research, they’ll love to see that you’ve put the effort in and come prepared.
For more ideas on what you should be researching for a job application, check out our article on researching for your cover letter.
Create Familiarity At The Start Of The Interview
This is probably the biggest interview hack for creating the best atmosphere. At the end of the day, people always buy people, and creating familiarity could well be what gets you the job. We’re deadly serious.
As mentioned before, to succeed in an interview, you need to connect with the person you’re chatting to. There’s no better way to break the ice than establishing a pre-existing connection with them. (Again, this is where your research comes in handy.)
Did you and your interviewer go to the same uni, study a similar course, have a similar interest or hobby, what have they posted about or talked about recently on social media that you can slip into conversation? Literally anything that can start to create a bond between the two of you is a winner. This connection and familiarity is what’s going to make the best atmosphere for you smashing that interview.
Get Hyped During The Interview To Make A Good Impression
Show them you want the role by getting hyped and showing genuine enthusiasm. You’d be surprised at how many people get to an interview stage and don’t really seem to give a shit. Be as passionate as you like, don’t be afraid to hype up the company and show your hunger to learn and help the company grow – guaranteed to leave a good impression.
Happiness and excitement are infectious, if you’re buzzing to join the company, they will be too. Never underestimate enthusiasm. Remember; people buy people.
Oh, and if you’re after another Grad Soc hack – flattery will get you everywhere, so if you want to make a super easy great impression, reference the company’s direct competitors and speak passionately about how the company’s offering/products/services/mission are all better in every single way. Easy points to impress.
If you fancy meeting The Grad Soc team and jumping on a call to ask your burning interview questions, you can book a slot here.
