Interview Top Tips for Kickstarters

The truth is all employers will be looking for something different when they are interviewing candidates for a job. It depends on many factors such as the job role itself, our own personal preferences, the ‘idea’ of the sort of person we may want, the organisations values and many many more things!

Now I am certainly not an expert for what all employers are looking for when they are interviewing candidates for a job. However, I know a few things that I am looking for if I am on an interview panel and our employers on Kickstart have also given us a few ideas of what they are looking for too!

Be yourself – that is your biggest strength

The purpose of a job interview is to see if you would be a good fit for the organisation AND if the organisation would be a good fit for you. By being yourself at an interview it will be easier for both parties to work this out quickly. Your happiness at work is the most important thing, so we are looking to find people who will be happy working with our team.

Do some research about the company and prepare in advance

Understanding the company that you are applying for and what the role you will be doing is extremely important when going for a job interview. It is very clear when somebody has not prepared for an interview.

My top tips around this would be..

• Start by looking at the company’s website, social media, or YouTube channel
• Make notes that you can use in your interview and make sure they are clear and readable
• I would particularly look for how the company describe themselves and what they do
• Consider some examples of how you can evidence your experience doing similar work or demonstrating the organisations values

Show enthusiasm

Hopefully you are applying for job or a company that you are genuinely interested in and excited about. Make sure you show that in your interview, particularly through your body language. Smiling and eye contact goes a long way and will make the interviewers warm to you quicker.

Perhaps when you were doing your research about the company you came across something that really excited you? Find an opportunity to talk about this in your interview! Your excitement will be infectious and will leave a lasting impression.

Remember, the interviewers are nervous to – we are only humans!

Being on an interview panel is a scary thing. As an interviewer you want the person you are interviewing to feel comfortable, safe, and prepared.

Remember, we are all only human beings playing the role of ‘interviewer’/’interviewee’. We all have one thing in common, ‘we want you to do well!’. No one is routing for you to fail.

I hope some of these tips help you in your next interview! Good luck!