Congratulations - they loved your CV and they want to meet you! But whilst this is a great sign, the job isn't in the bag yet. If you want to do everything you can to make sure it's yours, then you'll need to invest some time in making the most of this chance. Come along with us for a step-by-step guide to nailing that interview...
Thinking ahead...
* We all know the importance of pre-interview preparation. It can seem a bit daunting - after all, you might not have been to an interview for five or ten years. But once you get down to it, it's thankfully pretty straightforward - it's a matter of thinking about why your skills match what they need - and vice versa. A good starting point is to re-read the job description you'll have been sent by the recruiter. How do you meet each of the requirements they've listed? Can you give examples of projects you've worked on, and talk comfortably about occasions when you've demonstrated the skills and knowledge that they're looking for?
* Put aside some time to do some research on the company's products or services. Their website is a useful place to look, but it can be worth trying an industry internet forum, or searching for any references to them in industry publications. Fundamentally, what is it that they do? How do this role and this department fit into their wider mission? What's their ethos and culture? What are the company's plans for the future? Do you have any skills or professional experiences which might also be relevant to the next phase of their operations?
* Ask your recruiter who'll be carrying out the interview and find out a bit more about their role and professional background. LinkedIn and Google are your friends here.
* Brush up on any relevant technical skills; it can be a bit embarrassing to be searching around for the right technical terms in front of industry peers. A bit of reading around will make you feel much more confident walking into the interview, and that'll come across to the interviewer.
* If you've been asked to prepare a presentation, then it's always good to have practiced it in front of a friend. Make sure that you're not so enthusiastic that you run over your allotted time - it's better to say slightly less, but comply with what they've asked you to do. Also make sure that you have a Plan B in the event of any technical difficulties. Take along with you some spare copies of your slides, charge your laptop beforehand and take along a power cable. Few sounds make one's heart sink like the whirring down of a laptop in the middle of a crucial moment...
* Have a think about the questions they're going to ask you. Most of them are likely to revolve about some fairly common themes:
* yourself; they'll often start by asking you to tell them about yourself. It can be helpful to have practiced a brief summary of your professional experience to date (and potentially any personal factors, such as moving house or country, which may cast some light on your career path, or explain why you're applying for a new role);
* your strengths and weaknesses;
* why you're interested in working for this particular organisation;
* why you think you'd be a good fit for the company and the role;
* what you're looking for in your next job;
* where you'd like to be in, for example, five years' time;
* why you're leaving your current job; and
* your salary expectations and preferred working patterns.
* They are also likely to ask you to talk about your "situational judgement" - that is, to tell them how you've dealt with particular situations in the past. It's useful to have thought about some experiences and examples you can draw on to demonstrate how well you've dealt with various circumstances and difficulties.
* They might want to chat about any career breaks you've had - but don't be deterred. On the contrary, this is a golden opportunity to show all the new skills that you've picked up during this period. From voluntary work to increased efficiency, we can almost guarantee you'll have learned something new and valuable in your time away. If you're a returner, then you can show that you've acquired lots of life experience, and most importantly, that you're excited to be re-entering the world of work, and raring to go! If other candidates are feeling a bit career-weary, then enthusiasm alone can make you stand out, however nervous you might feel.
* They'll almost definitely ask you whether you have any questions for them. This is a chance for you to shine! Make sure you've thought of two or three things you'd like to ask them about - ideally things that make you sound enthusiastic, keen for career progression, and as though you've been listening carefully to the information they've given you in the interview! It may be best to keep the questions about holiday allowances, sick leave or office biscuits for another time...
* We're often asked whether, or when, candidates should ask about flexible working. In practice, if you want to work part-time, or remotely, or have staggered start and finish times, then it's best to have sorted out in advance whether those options will be possible in this role. Ask your recruiter to speak to the organisation at an early stage - preferably before they submit your CV - to hammer out any structural issues like this. After all, you don't want to spend hours preparing for an interview only to find out on the day that you can't make it work logistically. If the interviewer already knows that you're looking for a particular kind of working arrangement, the conversation about exactly how that might look is much easier to introduce.
The logistics...
* We know. It isn't the most exciting of topics, but it really is important. It sounds obvious, but it's important to be certain of where you have to be and when. If there's any ambiguity at all, then make sure you contact your recruiter and double check with them where and when your interviewer is expecting you to turn up. Plan out your route in advance, and make sure that you're aiming to get there at least 15 minutes before the interview starts, to give yourself some leeway in case anything goes wrong. Finally, check the details of who to ask for when you get to the interview - and who to call at the organisation if your train is cancelled and you're running late!
* If it's an online interview, then you'll want to check that you have the login details or links at least half an hour before the start time. If you don't, then telephone your recruiter and ask them to chase them up. The last thing you want is to be chasing them down with minutes to spare, and arriving on screen flustered and stressed.
On the Big Day...
* Make sure that you're dressed appropriately for the interview - but also for the company. Depending on the organisation you want to join, this might mean a traditional suit, but at a tech start-up, for example, it might mean something very different.
* When you arrive, obviously make sure that you're smiley and polite to everyone - from the cleaner who holds the door open for you, to the receptionist, to the CEO. All of these interactions will be noted!
* Turn off your phone five minutes before the interview is due to start. Nobody wants their phone to ping during an interview, but it can also be awkward for everyone if when the interviewer arrives to collect you from the waiting room, you have to fiddle with your phone to turn it off before or whilst shaking hands.
* Before you go into the interview room, take a few deep breaths. It'll calm your nerves and help to give the impression that you're unflustered and confident.
* Remember - this is your chance to interview them too, and to think about whether this is somewhere you can be happy. After all, the process works both ways!
Down to the nitty gritty...
* It's great to be confident and sell yourself in an interview, but it's also important to be honest. Partly because if you're not, you'll always be found out. We promise you that it will always be more painful and embarrassing to dig yourself out of that sort of hole further down the line than it will be to discuss any lack of experience at the interview stage. You definitely want your future referees to say that you're an honest and trustworthy person! But also partly because an interview is an opportunity for you to work out whether this role, this organisation, and this working environment will make you happy. If you aren't a good fit for each other, then chalk it up to experience - the right role will be just around the corner!
* Non-verbal communication can be as important as what you say. A firm handshake, good posture and a confident smile can go a long way to making a great first impression. It's important to make eye contact with everyone on the interview panel while you're speaking, not just the person who's asked the question. We know, we know - there's a fine line between "eye contact" and intensely eyeballing the interviewer in a way that makes both of you squirm. If this is something you find difficult, then you might want to practice with your family beforehand.
* However formal (or not) the organisation seems to be, it's important that your tone always remains calm and professional. That said, it's also important that the interviewers get to see who you are, and where your professional interests and passions lay. They'll be trying to work out not only whether you have the technical skills to do the job, but also how you'll get on with the rest of their team and their clients. If you love creative writing or play county hockey or really enjoy volunteering in your local community, it's ok if that arises in conversation as part of the interview. After all, you want to see whether you'll enjoy working with them at an individual level also.
* Listen. And then listen some more. Taking a new role is an important leap, after all. Ensure you've taken in all the information the interviewer is giving you, so that you can reach an informed decision as to whether or not it's the right fit for you. Think about what it is they're really asking you, and give yourself a chance to consider the answer properly, rather than rushing into pre-prepared speeches.
* If you don't understand quite what the question is driving at, it's fine to ask them to clarify. After all, they're busy people too. It's much better to ask and give the interviewers the information they're looking for than go off on a tangent and leave them wriggling in frustration as the minutes tick by...
* It's good practice to thank the interviewers for their time, explain that you really enjoyed meeting them and finding out more about the role, and say that you're looking forward to hearing from them. Even if you've decided that you'd rather stick pins in yourself for the next week than take the role, professional networks are often tight-knit places, and it's important not to burn any bridges. You might want to follow up with a polite email along the same lines.
After the fact...
* If you get an offer, then it's time to celebrate! It's totally normal to feel nervous about a big career move, but draw confidence from the fact that they've chosen you - you! - from all the applications they received. They obviously think you're brilliant - give yourself permission to believe it too, and to fly!
* If you're offered the job and you don't want to take it, it's still sensible to make sure that you're polite when you decline. You never know when you might be meeting this interviewer again in a different organisation.
* If things don't go your way, then it's perfectly acceptable to ask for feedback. The extra information can be really useful when preparing and practicing for your next interview.
* Make the most of the experience - if there were things that in retrospect make you cringe (we've all been there...) then that's a great opportunity to think about what you'd do differently next time and practice similar responses.
* If the interview's highlighted gaps in your experience, then think about whether there's a way you can fill those gaps. Might there be courses or some voluntary experience that would help you to acquire any missing skills?
* Finally, don't worry. There's no such thing as a "pointless" interview - only an interview where you didn't find quite the right fit for your experience. As we travel through our professional lives, every single one of us will encounter highs and lows. In fact, that sort of resilience is what makes us well-rounded people and more attractive to future employers. Take forward all the new information the experience has given you - it'll help you build a new and perfectly-fitting professional future.