You've put together a world class CV, you've discussed an exciting opportunity with one of our Recruitment Consultants, and you've now received a call to say that we’ve secured you an interview...congratulations!
This is your opportunity to land your dream job - however in today's competitive employment market you will only secure the position if you prepare well, do your research and leave the interviewers in no doubt as to your skills, your experience and your qualities. it's your opportunity to show them what you’re really made of...so we’ve created a handy guide to help you shine at interview and realise your career ambitions.
Do your homework - It’s absolutely vital that as soon as you find out which company you’re interviewing for, you find out as much about them as possible. The internet makes this easy – a quick Google search will usually take you straight to their company homepage. Find out a few facts and figures - how well they’ve been performing, a bit about their history etc. A lot of company websites also detail Health & Safety and Environmental performance, as well as any company accreditations e.g. ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001. Being able to relate your skills and achievements to their current performance (and their areas of development) will go a long way with your interviewers. Look up your interviewers on LinkedIn and find out as much as possible about them - you may have more in common than you know!
Know your industry - You’re a HSE Director working for a large blue chip? Or a Health & Safety Advisor for a construction contractor? Or perhaps you’re an Environmental Manager for a large manufacturer? Each of these industries, and each of these jobs, require a specific set of skills and offer their own challenges. That’s why we’re here – Health, Safety & Environmental professionals have a unique set of skills, and you won’t get anywhere by being vague. By all means apply your experience in a variety of ways, and demonstrate your adaptability but don’t sell yourself short – you’re a specialist, and that’s why we’ve put you forward for the job.
Think outside the box - While it’s good to show that you’re thinking along the same lines as they are, it’s wise to be able to show that you’ve got plenty of ideas of your own. You need to show that you have drive and that you are able to think outside the box in order to provide solutions to problems, whilst always conscious of company policies and procedures.
Have examples ready - It’s all well and good being able to answer all of their questions with an emphatic ‘yes!’ – and enthusiasm is of course a must – but without specific, detailed and relevant examples you're suitability won't live long in the memory. Saying you can do something is one thing - proving that you've done it before, succesfully, puts you in a different bracket, and examples of when you’ve gone 'above and beyond' the call of duty completely sets you apart. However you need to choose these examples carefully. Don’t just fire anecdotes at them - think about what they’re asking you. There may have been a time when you singlehandedly saved the day, but if it’s not relevant; it’s not going to help.
Take the good with the bad - If they ask about a mistake you’ve made, or a time you’ve when you've not achieved an objective, don’t lie - be honest about the outcome and the role you had to play. However DO put a positive slant on the impact of that experience. For example: How did you recover? What did you learn from the experience? How have you changed since the incident? It’s important to show that you’re a well-rounded individual, that you embrace constructive feedback and that you're committed to learning from your experiences, good or bad. In today’s post-recession market we all know that things can go wrong – but if you can pick yourself up and move on, you’re bound for success.
It’s all about you - Remember that they’ve asked to see you. You’ve already survived the CV screening, so now it’s time to show them what you can do. Talk about what you have done, rather than any company’s achievements, and if you must talk company-wide show how you, specifically. were instrumental in that achievement. Talk about what you have done within your team, whilst at the same time showing how you stood out from it. It’s a delicate balance between selling yourself and showing off, but they are interested in what value YOU can add to their company.
Be ready to talk about them - Make sure you have questions prepared for them – the worst thing you can do is respond to ‘do you have any questions for us?’ with a mumbled ‘no.’ And with this, we’re back to the start - because if you’ve done your homework, you’ll undoubtedly have plenty to ask!
And just a few reminders of the fundamental rules of any interview:
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Be punctual - Arriving fashionably late won’t impress anyone!
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Dress to impress - It’s an old adage, but it’s true – first impressions really do count.
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Don’t disparage your current employer -You never know who knows who – and besides, it’s not professional.
...and last but by no means least...Good Luck!!