How to Get Past the Interview Stage: 5 Experts Weigh In

If you find yourself unsure of how to pass an interview, don’t worry, we’ve all been there, even experts

• Interviews can be a nerve-wracking experience, but a little preparation can go a long way.
• Although there is a lot of information online about interviews, not all of it is credible or good information.
• Read some practical interview tips and tricks straight from the experts, including an original insight from the CEO of MoneyFitt.

Whether you’re job-hopping or hoping to get your first job, interviews are a necessary hoop to jump through. We all know that preparation can go a long way, including doing your research and gathering tips or references for the types of questions that could be asked. Most of these are readily found online, but sometimes, don’t you wish you could get the advice straight from the hiring managers themselves? Well, we’ve done the legwork for you and have compiled some tips from experts on what they’re looking for and how you can give it your best shot. 

1. Know Exactly Why You Want the Role

MIT career counsellor, Lily Zhang 

As she wrote in The Muse, generic answers won’t meet the mark. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself if your answer can be applied to any company or just the one you are interviewing for. In fact, she lists a few strategies that can help you formulate an answer before the interview. They are:

• Do your research and find out what it is about the company that appeals to you. Based on this, perhaps you can think about what values this company has or what special contributions the company makes to society. Once you’ve pinpointed a unique aspect of the company that you resonate with, you can share why this aspect appeals to you and why you want to be a part of it. 
• Talk about how you’ve seen the company transform since you first heard of it. Journeys can tell compelling stories, and aligning yourself with the company’s journey can help you stand out. Of course, the more authentic your sharing is, the better, so only use this tip if you are knowledgeable and interested in the company’s history.
• Focus on the organisation’s opportunities for future growth and ask yourself how you can contribute. If you don’t have any strong attachment to the company’s backstory, this might be a good selling point for you. Research or even perform a S.W.O.T analysis of the company beforehand and find out where you can best contribute. A tip is to look at the company or the department's pain points and share how you can help with your interviewers. 

2. Whatever You Do, Don’t Panic

CEO of MoneyFitt, Lim Ka-ming

Perhaps you’ve been in an interview with some seriously harsh interviewers who seem to pick a bone with every sentence you say. In the moment, it might feel bad, but it’s important to stay clear-headed! Even if the interviewers sound like they are trying to “catch you out”, says Ka, there’s a chance that they are actually trying to hire you and want you to give the right answer. It’s also a good way to smoke out candidates who don’t work well under pressure, so they might just be testing your ability to stay level and think productively even when you’re stressed out. 

3. Don’t Be Negative About Your Previous Boss

Executive Director of the Northeastern University MBA Career Center, Lynne Sarikas

When walking into an interview for a new job, one question you should prepare to answer is “What are your thoughts on your previous boss?” Regardless of whether you had a good or bad experience, it’s important to not spiral and turn the entire interview into a complaint. Instead, what Lynne Sarikas recommends to Monster is to focus on the positives. Even if you had a bad experience previously, you can simply acknowledge that you and your boss had different working styles. Top your answer off with a concrete example of a conflict you had with your boss and how you came to a mutually beneficial resolution afterwards. Alternatively, you can tie your answer back to your strengths and how working with your previous boss has enriched your learning in those areas. Whatever you do, remember that they are interviewing and interested in you, not your previous boss! 

4. Don’t Lie to Cover Up Your Past Mistakes

Former recruiter Richard Moy

If an interviewer asks you about previous mistakes or conflicts you’ve had, chances are that they’re not trying to call you out, but rather, they want to see a sincere attempt that you made to resolve the issue, says Richard Moy to Muse. As such, there’s no need to cover up or lie about it. However, that being said, you should focus your answer on how you resolved the problem or the lessons that you learned, rather than make it a rant session. If you spend the whole time recounting the problem or complaining about a previous work environment, it will not go down well with the interviewers. 

5. Be Honest About Applying to Other Companies

Founder of Resume Writers’ Ink, Tina Nicolai

It is common for interviewers to ask if you’re applying to multiple companies or just theirs. Now, it might be tempting to lie and say you’re only applying to the company you’re currently interviewing for, as it shows that you’re loyal and interested, right? Not according to Tina Nicolai. In a World Economic Forum article, she pointed out that saying you’re only applying to one job or company is a red flag. In reality, few job applicants only apply to one single job, so the interviewer may assume you’re being dishonest. You should be honest and let them know how active you are in your job search. It could even create a sense of urgency for them to offer you the job quickly! 

For the next interview, keep these 5 tips handy. Overall, it helps to think of interviews as a positive experience to display your abilities, build your network and gain experience. Even if you don’t get the job in the end, keep calm and carry on! 

HOW TO GET PAST THE INTERVIEW STAGE. COMPLETED. ✅

Sources:

1. https://www.themuse.com/advice/interview-questions-and-answers&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1623729309582000&usg=AOvVaw1Ssdx-y_QYFvuSECDexIbc
2. http://www.weforum.org/
3. https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/former-boss-job-interview