How to give good interview (whatever side of the desk you’re on!)
The first time I interviewed someone for a job, it turned out to be a complete disaster.
I was twenty-one, and working for a tech start-up that was expanding rapidly. There was no HR person, so the Managing Director decided I would be it, and my first task was to interview for a new receptionist.
The woman I chose was a compulsive liar who started out by complaining that I’d promised her a higher salary after her first month in the role (I hadn’t). Later on, she pretended she was dying of leukaemia. This lie went on for months, and it was only discovered after I called the hospital to check something, only to be told they didn’t actually treat leukaemia there.
Bless her. Anyway, it’s fair to say that the experience had taught me my first recruiting lesson: never interview people on your own, and don’t see them just once before offering them the job.
While I can’t say I didn’t make any more mistakes (a classic one being hiring people just because I felt sorry for them), I’ve successfully interviewed hundreds of people for jobs in the years that followed. Being someone who has changed jobs regularly, I’ve sat on the other side of the desk plenty of times, too.
These days, as a freelance writer, I’m still interviewing people, albeit in a different way – now I’m trying to find interesting stories. I’m also regularly interviewed myself, mostly about career change or writing.
From all this experience, I've learned that there are two things every interview scenario has in common: preparation and listening. These are the magic ingredients that will lift your interview and make it more interesting, whichever side of the desk you happen to be on.
Preparation means reading any information you’ve been given beforehand (which sounds obvious, but the amount of uninformed interviews that take place are higher than you might expect) and listening means…well, just that.
In fact, if you’re ever feeling nervous about an upcoming interview, simply resolving to listen is a great start. Concentrating on what the other person has to say will take the pressure off you, and just like most normal conversations, you will know how to respond. Trust yourself.
Other tips can be swiftly broken down as follows:
If you’re going for a job interview…
- Research common questions, but not so much that you sound rehearsed and robotic.
- It sounds cheesy, but be yourself as much as possible. Trying to fit in as somebody else is guaranteed to crush your soul.
- Don’t lie – you’ll get found out eventually.
- Ask a few questions of your own, ideally not ones that have already been covered during the interview.
If you’re conducting a job interview…
- Don’t ask stupid questions that don’t tell you anything (examples: “if you were an animal, which would you be?” or, “how many pots of paint would it take to cover the moon?”)
- Don’t ask people where they’ll be in five years’ time. They don’t know – nobody does.
- Try not to employ people who you like, but who aren’t really suitable for the job.
If you’re being interviewed for a magazine or website…
- Have a few ‘go-to’ stories ready that will tell people something interesting and memorable about you. This could be how your career got started, what drives you, or a strange and funny incident that occurred at the supermarket.
If you’re conducting an information interview…
- Remember that the person you’re interviewing might be feeling nervous, so it’s your job to relax and reassure them.
- If you can, have a quick chat before the interview starts, and let them know what to expect.
- Don’t let a story go only half-told – ask questions that will draw out more information where needed.
And finally, if you’re being interviewed by the police…
- Answer every question with “no comment”.
Related Articles
Social media bragging - yay or nay?
How to get away with bragging...without bragging about it.
Read moreThe Art of the Written Compliment
If you're too embarrassed to give (or receive!) compliments, writing it all down can work wonders
Read moreLooking for a way to beat the January blues? Start with a letter
It's Universal Letter Writing Week - how will you celebrate?
Read more
Kick-start your writing in 2019 (with a little help from me!)
I’ve gathered together some of my most-read blog posts, tips and tools to help you get writing.
Read moreStuck in a career rut? Get someone else to write your CV – and thrive!
"The right person will help you come across as yourself, but in a prouder, more polished, 'look what I’ve achieved' kind of way"
Read moreStraight from the heart: how to write irresistible words
When you give people a piece of yourself, you will naturally engage them.
Read moreHow to give good interview (whatever side of the desk you’re on!)
Simple tips to help you breeze through any interview scenario.
Read moreWhy giving up on social media is a mistake...
Easy tips to help you fit social media nicely into your life - no mindfulness seminars required.
Read moreAppreciate your freelancers, and be rewarded with their best work
How to become every freelancer's favourite client!
Read more
Talk confidently about something you love: set a speaking challenge!
How setting a speaking challenge forced me to talk confidently about the work I love.
Read moreFive New Year's Resolutions for Freelancers
Lone wolf or team worker - which is best?
What are your customers really saying about you?
Why storytelling is your secret weapon in business (and how to do it properly)
Learn how to live happily ever after through the power of storytelling
Read moreTake control of your career this summer
Take advantage of summer downtime to learn and grow in your career - or discover a new one!
Read moreWhy being old is great for business
Age aint nothing but a number, right? Wrong - here's how getting older can be great for business.
Read moreWhat do successful entrepreneurs and guests on the Jeremy Kyle Show have in common?
There's a lot of vague career advice out there, so if you're looking for insight that goes beyond "be yourself and follow your passion" you may have to leap before you look!
Read moreOn creating a writer's life
This week I'm responding to the questions people have asked since my Careershifters' Success Story was published recently - all about creating a writer's life.
Read moreHome truths for aspiring remote workers
Remote working is on the increase - so here's some advice on how to work it well!
Read moreDiscovering your unique writer's voice is easier than you think
You don't have to be a professional writer to discover a unique writing voice that speaks to its readers. Finding your own voice is often easier than you might think, and it all starts when you write from the heart.
Read moreReal-life lessons I learned from changing my career
I'm a 'Success Story'! My career change journey was featured on Careershifters' website this week, and I'm incredibly proud of it. But I wouldn't want anybody to think changing my career has been easy. And so this is a reflection of sorts, on where I was when I began, and how I've ended up where I am now.
Read moreFor that special person who has everything, give the gift of words
If you know someone who already has everything, give them something truly unique - special words.
Read moreNo job for life? How a tailored approach to job-hopping can win your next career move
Did you know that so-called 'job-hopping' can be an asset to your career search? Whether you prefer stability or excitement in your career, planning your next move is all about packaging your skills and making the right kind of approach.
Read more“Telling it like it is” – giving effective feedback in writing
There's a new trend sweeping Silicon Valley - giving honest and direct feedback to your colleagues. Before you go rushing in, focus your message by writing it down first...your colleagues and your career will thank you for it!
Read moreShare your expertise - write a business book!
All those celebrated business gurus had to start somewhere...and the most successful ones know how to tell their stories in a relatable way that inspires others to act on their dreams and ideas. By writing a business book, you can do just that yourself!
Read moreRead this before you write your next recruitment ad!
Writing a recruitment ad is often a rushed activity, with the words used ones you've read many times before ("dynamic" anyone?) Here's how the Banks children managed to recruit their ideal candidate - Mary Poppins! - by using clear and creative words that stood out.
Read more‘CV Greatest Hits’ Countdown – 10 ultimate CV tips to prepare you for the Great 2017 Job Hunt!
'Greatest Hits' countdowns are rife at this time of year - so now, here's one featuring the best CV advice. This list will give you the ultimate steer if you're looking to get your CV on track for the new year job hunt. Wishing you a very happy 2017!
Read moreGive yourself a special Christmas gift...a happy working life in 2017!
If you're stuck in a job you don't particularly like, mindlessly searching job boards for something else, it can be hard to dredge up any enthusiasm to make a change. But that little bit of rest time between Christmas and a brand new year beginning is perfect for considering exactly what you want, and how to take the very first step towards making 2017 your happy work year!
Read moreHow to write your life story
With a new year on the horizon, why not make a resolution to tell your life story? Committing your personal tales to paper can be a rich and rewarding experience for you to write and others to read...for generations to come. Here's how to get started.
Read moreWriting to get what you want at work!
Have you ever thought that making a few tweaks to your working life would help make living it much easier? Harness the power of well-chosen words to state your case and win better work-life balance in the process.
Read moreFitting in ‘me’ projects – five panic-free time management tips for the professionally overwhelmed
Is time getting the better of you? With a growing business, several passion projects on the go, books to read and friends I'd quite like to see, I was starting to feel overwhelmed...until I decided to take a closer look at planning my time more effectively. Here's how you can do the same.
Read moreUse your sense of style to build trust and win business!
Looking for ways to sound consistent and authentic in your written communications? Here are a few tried, tested and original ways to do just that.
Read moreGhost stories…how shadowy script can light up your life and work
BOO! Like a ripe pumpkin Hallowe'en has rolled around yet again, so what better time to extol the benefits of ghostwriting, definitely not just the province of bargain-bin bound celebrities.
Read moreHow I escaped the corporate cage and set myself firmly on the ‘write’ career path!
An encounter with a corporate headhunter made me question my career - why was I still doing something I didn't love? Here's how I formulated my corporate escape plan and found a career I truly enjoy.
Read moreThe (Not-So) Secret Life of an HR Manager
Ever wonder what your HR Manager is really thinking, or what they do all day? I worked in this oft-misunderstood profession for a number of years and now I'm safely out of it, I'm free to vent!
Read morePlan a memorable speech...in three easy steps!
Great speeches vary in tone and content, but they all consider the same elements - who they're for, what they're about and why they're being heard. Here's how to plan yours effectively, so you can conquer any nerves and make your speech memorable for all the right reasons!
Read moreMaking meaningful business connections…in writing
Speaking up in networking groups used to bring me out in a cold sweat. So I sought out the people I really wanted to talk to and introduced myself in the way I'm best at - in writing.
Read moreBeyond the online dating profile - using the power of words to find a perfect match
Writing an online dating profile that reveals the real 'you' takes time and courage - but that special person will appreciate the effort. Read on for a few tips to get you started.
Read more
