Big Interview: 5 Actionable Tips to Prepare for Success
Everybody wants to land their next job. Most ‘job interviews last between 45 minutes and 1 hour’1 so it’s best to be prepared!
Luckily, Big Interview is an online resource for just that, and they’ve put together 5 best practices to prepare you for success in your next interview.
Big Interview’s advice includes what not to do before the interview, how to dress appropriately, and what questions to ask during the interview. Big Interview doesn’t want anyone going into an interview unprepared; after all, it’s a big deal!
What is the Big Interview Preparation System?
Everybody wants to land their next job. The Big Interview app is an online training system for just that, and they’ve put together a free training system to help you with your big interview, no matter what your experience level is to start.
The Big Interview is an online training course which offers:
- fast-track your interview technique
- full video curriculum of expert video lessons
- step by step interview answer builder
- access to a top interview coach
- database of interview questions
- virtual mock interviews
- interview sets from dozens of industries
- advice on what not do before the interview
- how to dress appropriately
- what questions to ask during the interview
- a variety of tools to help you deal with the toughest questions
- helpful resources for finding a job or internship in your area of interest.
Big Interview wants you to land that coveted position by preparing with their preparation system!
How do I prepare for a big interview?
Being prepared for the interview is crucial to succeeding in your career. If you are not, the next candidate will be, so put the prep in and get that job!
Top preparation tips:
- Research the job or company
- Practice interview questions
- Dress appropriately
- Bring business cards to leave with hiring managers
- Don’t lie on your job application or resume
- Have your references lined up
- Bring hard copies of your updated CV/ resume
- Arrive on time!
- Be confident
- Avoid being arrogant
- Be honest
- Have examples or statistics of your achievements
- Thank your interviewer for their time
What are the 10 most popular interview questions?
The Big Interview has put together a list of the ten most popular interview questions asked at big companies.
- What is your biggest weakness?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- Why should we hire you over someone else? What sets you apart from everyone else applying for this position, internship, or job?
- What are your biggest weaknesses?
- How would you describe yourself in one word?
- Why do you want to work for this company? Why should we hire you over the other candidates?
- Tell me about a time when you showed leadership skills.
- Describe two or three of your strengths and weaknesses. What will it take to overcome these weaknesses?
- What is your greatest achievement to date? What did you do, and how were you personally involved in this success?
The First 30 Seconds
First impressions count, so they say, especially in a job interview! Never mind the first 30 seconds; the Association of Psychological Science has reported that ‘you only have 7 seconds to make a good first impression’.2
So what matters?
-Start strong by standing up and offering a firm handshake. Big Interview recommends keeping your hands dry, as sweaty palms don’t inspire confidence in the interviewer.
– Use active language
– Stand up to shake hands or sit down if offered a seat initially, or be sure to stand when greeting them at the beginning of an interview. Big Interview suggests that you should not be seated before your interviewer.
– Big interview recommends doing some research on the company to show your interest in working for them and preparedness for the role.
What NOT to do during an interview? This includes avoiding these actions, such as:
- check your phone
- chew gum
- don’t wear inappropriate clothing, such as sunglasses or a hat.
Tips for a virtual interview
‘Since the beginning of the pandemic, 86% of recruiters have been conducting virtual interviews’.3 For comparison, 79% of first-stage interviews were conducted in person or via phone before the pandemic.4
Big Interview suggests that you should do the following when doing a virtual interview:
- make sure your background is neat and free from distractions or noise
- don’t have pets in the room, as they may distract you during an important conversation
- make sure your internet connection is strong and shows your face clearly
- also make sure the interviewer has a good connection
- dress completely for the interview, not just from the waist up! (Just in case).
- be prepared to ask questions in the comment box if the interviewer can’t hear you properly.
What are the 5 stages of an interview?
The typical interview format and what you should expect.
The introduction
The interviewer will usually start off with some small talk while you are waiting to be interviewed. Big Interview recommends keeping your responses concise and courteous, without too much information!
Questions about the role
Big interview suggests that most interviews will include questions aimed at getting an idea of how well you know the company or role on offer. Do your research, and Big Interview recommends that you ask questions in an appropriate manner, demonstrating your interest.
Questions about yourself
Many interviews will also include some personal questions to get a sense of who you are as well, so it is recommended that you prepare for these in advance and keep your answers brief and professional throughout the whole process!
The Big Closing
Big interview recommends that you should try to end the interview on a positive note. Big Interview suggests that your interviewer will often give an overview of what happens next, but if they don’t Big interview advises anticipating this and asking at the end!
The feedback
The creator of Big Interview understands that it can be difficult to get any information about how well you did or what may happen next, Big interview suggests that you should be proactive about contacting the interviewer after a few days to check in.
Big Interview recommends not asking how your performance was or if they have any feedback because chances are they haven’t had time to process it yet!
Big Interview has helped countless clients from all types of backgrounds in different industries achieve their career goals, so why not give them a try?
Best of luck at your upcoming interviews!!!
References
- How long do interviews last? (no date) Reed.com. Available at: https://www.reed.com/articles/how-long-should-an-interview-last
- Wargo, E. (2006) ‘How Many Seconds to a First Impression?’, APS Observer, 19. Available at: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/how-many-seconds-to-a-first-impression
- Makachoska, M. (2022) 27 Astonishing Interview Statistics, What To Become. Available at: https://whattobecome.com/blog/interview-statistics/
- Makachoska, M. (2022) 27 Astonishing Interview Statistics, What To Become. Available at: https://whattobecome.com/blog/interview-statistics/
