Having personally interviewed a wealth of applicants and young people over the years and overseeing hundreds of CVs on a regular basis, today I share with you some fundamental principles to help you become successful in interviews.

1. Research the organisation’s mission statement

Every organisation has a mission statement; get definite on what exactly their vision is and then ask yourself: are you in alignment with their culture and bigger vision?

2. Research the organisation’s philosophy

A company or school’s philosophy is their core values. Are their values align with what you believe in? When we are moving in unity and harmony, we are more likely to thrive and flourish in an environment. Find out what the pillars of what the school or company is built from and build your answers with this in mind.

3. Study the job/student profile

No matter how skilled or wonderful you are, you must gain clarity on what exactly it is that the organisation is looking for. In the case of a job interview, find out specifically what it is exactly that the employer is looking for. As a tutor looking to work with a private tutoring agency like Telios Tutors, for example, try to find out what our ‘tutor avatar profile’ is. Do we want tutors with excellent credentials? Or are we more focused on the individual’s character, or both? Regarding school entry for 11+, for example, try to discover their ideal student profile. In the case of trying to get a job, try to get specific on the job description and what is expected of you.

4. Have a definite purpose and add value

Get clear on your ‘why’. Why are you applying for this job? Most likely, it will be to gain a source of income, but try not to portray feelings of desperation, but rather from a place of servitude. What is your purpose and how can you add VALUE to the organisation to fulfill this purpose? This also applies to interviews for schools; whilst enthusiasm is welcome, one must conduct themselves professionally and not appear excessively eager to the point of desperation. Focus on how you can add value and not what you can take from them,

5. Be authentic

Interviews are personal and answers should be provided authentically. There is no formula and answers should be provided honestly and conducted in a manner that is genuine. Really let your personality shine through and demonstrate your strengths.

 

 

6. Get outside of yourself

Often times candidates feel uncomfortable in interview settings as it can come across like an interrogation. When we step outside of ourselves, any insecurities we may be experiencing should subside. Many feelings of vulnerability come from focusing heavily on the ‘self’. Rather, shift your focus to answering the question at hand concisely and directly.

7. Ask good questions

Interviewers usually welcome questions and so feel free to ask questions that are relative. However, be selective about the type of questions you ask and how you ask, considering etiquette and appropriateness. For example, instead of asking ‘when will I find out if I’m successful or not?’ you can ask ‘what is the usual timescale that is required for the organisation to notify the outcome of their success?’

 

8. Be professional

Interviews are usually the first real interaction between you and the organisation, so make a good first impression. Professionalism means to conduct yourself with excellent character, and to ensure a good standard of physical presentation, also. Conduct yourself in a manner that is appropriate and befitting to the environment that you are in.

 

Last academic year, 100% of our students that engaged with interview skills received offers at their first choice of schools, including St Pauls, Dulwich College, Haberdasher Askes to name a few. In the case of one of our older students looking for a full-time work position, she was not having much success during the interview stage.

We conducted role plays where both the tutor and student played roles as an interviewer and interviewee. By adopting different roles, our student was able to shift her perspective on what the interviewer is looking for. The shift really helped her gain more clarity on what the interviewer is looking for and as a result, how she can adapt her answers accordingly.

Interested in working with an Interview skills tutor to help with school entry or help improve your career prospects? Contact us today to discuss and arrange.