Have you ever wondered why people want to “nail” a job interview? It’s not because you need to show up clutching a hammer, that will show only a firm grip on the hammer and not on reality! No, it’s all about precision, the kind that lets you hit the nail squarely on the head, exactly where you were aiming to hit and securing your place as the standout candidate.

So, put your toolkit away, you won’t need to drive any physical nails at your interview, but you will need to hammer home why you’re the best fit for the job. *Groan*

Ready to swing into action? *Wow*

Hit it!

1. Do your homework

Job interviews are very similar to first dates. There’s nervous excitement, first impressions are mega important and the more stalking you’ve done, the better prepared you’ll be!

Get to know the company you’re interviewing at, like really get to know them. Anyone can just reel off stats for their homepage and see what year they started and how much they made last year so you’ll need to go deeper! Check out their social media, read customer reviews and try to ascertain the culture of the company if you can. Impress them by dropping some knowledge bombs about their latest product launch or the sustainability initiative they’ve plastered all over their socials.

Don’t stop at getting to know the company, it’s the interviewers who are making the decision and the more you know about them, the better. Get on their LinkedIn profile, check out their background, identify any common ground or think of a question or two that will show them that you can stalk with the best of them!

P.S. But keep it professional – if you start talking about the holiday they had last summer and naming their kids, then you may have crossed the line.

2. Showcase your Experience

Depending on the type of role you’re going for of course, gathering some examples of the type of output you have delivered in the past can really help. Obviously, if you are going for a job as an Accountant, it could be hard to evidence your last bank reconciliation or the profit and loss account you’ve just completed for your client, but you get the idea.

If you don’t have anything physical to take in, then think about some key achievements you’d like to share. If you’re worried that nerves will get the better of you and you’ll forget something, prepare some notes to take with you; it will not go against you! If you’re doing a video interview, you can have them next to you for easy reference but even in a face-to-face meeting, refer to them during the interview if you need to.

Try to prepare well enough that you don’t need them but if you do then make sure they’re concise and organised so you don’t get flustered.

3. Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail

Don’t leave anything to chance. First impressions are critical so, makes sure you plan the day of your interview around the interview itself. You need to minimise the risk of anything that could prevent you from attending the interview on time, no matter whether it’s a video call or face to face.

• School run means you’re cutting it fine? Make other arrangements, just in case your kid forgot to tell you about their detention, or that road closure next to the school.
• On a video call? Test your connection before the call and have a back-up device ready in case something goes wrong.
• Not sure what to wear? Sort that out the day before so everything is ready. Ask your partner or a friend for help, although we cannot be held responsible for any comments if your bum does look big in that.

Set specific reminders up for the day of the interview on your phone, plan your day around the interview and make sure that you have everything in place ready to make the day of the interview as easy as it can be. This will give you more time to focus on that and minimise the need to focus on sorting other things out.

4. Dress to Impress, Not Distress

You want them to remember you for your sparkling wit and brilliant answers, not your trainers or the novelty piano tie. Here is a scale for you to measure it, based on a 1-10 scale of smartness from a male perspective:

Scale	Attire	Setting
1	Onesies	Bed/Sofa
2	Joggers & sweaters	Bed/Sofa/Gym
3	Jeans & t-shirt/polo shirt	Sofa/shopping/leisure
4	Jeans & a shirt	shopping/leisure/drinks/dinner
5	Jeans, shirt & suit jacket	shopping/leisure/drinks/dinner
6	Trousers & shirt	Parties/Weddings/funerals/networking
7	Trousers, shirt & tie	work/interview/meeting
8	Suit, shirt & tie	work/interview/meeting/church
9	Suit, waistcoat, shirt & tie	work/meeting/church
10	Tuxedo	Dinner/Dance/Ball

If you are female and looking for specific tips on what to wear for an interview, then it is likely that you will already know better than us, so I will not be offering any specific advice beyond the principle of 7/8 out of a scale of 10… although with the combinations available for woman, it might well be a principle of 70/80 out of 100!

5. Be Yourself… but better!

So, how do you go from a sharply dressed candidate in reception to the standout candidate in the race for this job? Easy, follow the tips below:

• Master the art of eye contact: It’s a delicate balance as too little can make you seem disinterested but too much and they’ve got security on speed-dial. Let your gaze reflect your engagement, which should be ‘interested’ but don’t forget to listen to what they’re saying as well.
• Be Yourself: It’s tempting to morph into what you think they want, but it’s always best to be true to yourself. Neither party wants you to end up in a job you don’t fit into, so professional and genuine. You want them to hire you for you, not for the persona you conjure up for the day, and sometimes weekends.
• Honesty is the best policy: Embellishing might get you through the door, but it won’t help you stay in the room. Stick to the truth about what you can and even what you can’t do and remember your preparation. Nothing’s more awkward than being given a task in your first week that they think you can do in your sleep… and they’re right, you can only do it in your dreams.

Perhaps have a practice run interview with a close friend who will give you some honest feedback about your eye contact and how you generally come across. Prepare some questions that you may expect to receive at an interview and see how it goes. What’s the worst that can happen? You don’t get the fake job!

6. And Finally… “is there anything you’d like to ask us?”

The dreaded question that comes at the end of every interview. If you say “no thanks, you’ve covered everything” it doesn’t necessarily go against you, but it won’t do anything FOR you either.

Here are some ideas of what you can ask at this potentially pivotal moment in the interview:

Ask about the Job itself

How long was the previous person in the role? How do you see the role developing? Are there any changes to the role that you would like to see made?

Ask about the organisation

What’s the strategy, are they looking to expand, consolidate? Would you say this is a diverse and inclusive organisation? Does the organisation encourage personal development & provide any support?

Ask about the interviewers

What made you choose this company? Where do you see your career with the company in 5 years time? (you can get your own back with this one!) What’s your management style e.g. hands off, hands on?

Ask about the Team

How many people are in the team? How long have they been there? Do they socialise together?

But if there is one question that is THE BEST question to ask at the end of an interview, it’s this:

“Is there anything specifically you’re looking for, that I haven’t evidenced or discussed in the interview?”

BOOM – mic drop – you’re done.

Bonus Tip: Smile and Breathe

Seriously, it’s okay to show you’re human. A smile can break the ice, and a deep breath can calm those nerves. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about being memorable… for the right reasons!

Preparing well increases your confidence. The more confident you are, the better proposition you are for the employer. Take these steps to improve your chances of getting the job, and we wish you all the best!

Be the hammer, and nail it!