6 interview tips to help you stand out

After a couple of decades in the corporate world, including as a recruiter, it's no surprise to me any longer how many people are simply unprepared for the interviews they attend and lack the skills to really sell themselves. Many seem to wing it on the day.

The reality is, though, that many of the things candidates do 'wrong' can be easily rectified and, by doing so, they will stand out from the crowd. Fresh and inspired by a recent set of interview coaching sessions, here are my key pointers.

1. Prepare, prepare, prepare!

It seems like a no-brainer (and it should be), but too many candidates simply don't prepare.

It is essential to know who you are interviewing with, what the company does and what the role involves. Candidates who say, "Well, I was hoping you would tell me," without offering their own perspective of the company or role, have already dug themselves a hole.

These are the key things you need to prepare:

• Who the company is.
• What they do and why.
• Who their competitors are.
• Why you find them interesting.
• How long they have been established.
• What they sell.
• What's new within the business.
• If you can (and LinkedIn is good for this), who the team or manager is and their background.
• What the role requires and why you are a good fit.

...and that's just for starters.

2. Punctuality and politeness

Be prepared. Know how you're going to get there and how long it's going to take. Factor in some extra time for delays.

Respect the people who are interviewing you. Turn up on time; otherwise they may think you will be just as unreliable when doing the job.

What's more, be fresh for the interview. Really, for your own sake, don't go clubbing the night before. It doesn't go down well, and you won't perform at your best.

Don't bring your takeaway coffee into the interview room and turn your phone off.

Focus on the task at hand to give yourself the best chance possible.

3. Know what you want

Remember, you are interviewing the company too.

You need to know what you need from a role and how it will suit you, over and above the tantalising salary and benefits.

You need to know that it will meet your needs; otherwise you may become unhappy, unmotivated and struggle to achieve success.

Prepare questions, find out more about the role and use that information to explain why you are the best person for the job.

4. Dress for the job

Make sure you are suited and booted and looking your best.

You need to stand out from the other candidates.

5. Eye contact and body language

Maintain eye contact, smile and breathe.

Breathing helps you relax and gives the impression of confidence.

Looking down, avoiding eye contact, crossing your arms, turning your body away from the interviewer or mumbling can all create a negative impression and make it harder to build a connection.

If you aren't sure about your body language, ask a friend, family member or coach to practise interview techniques with you. Better still, video yourself so you can see what you're doing.

Remember, practice makes perfect.

6. Research common interview questions

Interviewers will often ask more general questions designed to understand how you would deal with particular situations.

For example:

"If one of your customers is very demanding, can you give me an example of how you would deal with this?"

Think about the demands of the role you are applying for and the situations you might be faced with, such as meeting targets, working with demanding colleagues, supporting customers or dealing with unexpected challenges.

The more prepared you are, the more naturally your answers will come across.