Your dream job came up within the International Development sector; you tailored your CV, wrote a brilliant cover letter and now, you’ve been invited to interview. Any organisation will have its own recruitment procedures, but more than likely there will be several stages, especially at CEO or Board level and, depending on your location and where the organisation is based, these could be a mix of virtual and face-to-face, so you need to be ready for both.
Here are some top tips from the Oxford HR Consultants, to ensure you are calm, collected and ready for your interview:
1. The key to a successful interview in any sector and at any level, is preparation, preparation, preparation. Research the organisation thoroughly, not only through their website and available literature, but read their annual report, google them for news updates, try and connect on LinkedIN with your interviewers and really try and connect their mission and values with some of your aspirations or points you want to make in your interview. The more understanding you have of an organisation, the more you will know why they ask you certain questions and be able to show how you can fit in
2. From the job and person specification you can probably anticipate some of the questions you will be asked (or you should be able to ask your consultant too), so practice those answers. In the mirror or with a friend, and always video your answers to watch and practice your facial expressions and body language. This can be especially useful if you are applying for a role where they may ask you for a recorded interview, or if, for example it is a public speaking position.
3. Many people get nervous before interviews, and especially if it is a role you really want but practice breathing techniques beforehand to calm your nerves and ensure you appear outwardly calm. Also pause, take a breath and smile before answering each question – there is no rush and you will seem much more considered and thoughtful than rushing into an answer in haste. Speaking slowly & clearly is also important when considering you may be interviewing with people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, whose mother tongue is not the same as yours. Be aware therefore of pace, intonation and pronunciation.
4. As remote management plays a significant role in today’s world, and even before that within the International Development sector, interviewing online is a likely scenario and one you need to be comfortable with. Ensure your background is tidy with no distractions from pets or children possible, arrive 10-15 mins before the scheduled interview time (this also applies in face-to-face interviews), ensure you have as strong an internet connection as possible and allow in your answers for time delays. Check before your interview how you come across on screen and practice ‘eye contact’ with your audience, ensuring your eyes are level with the camera so you don’t have to look up or down. And be yourself, letting your personality come through – the people hiring you want to make a connection, not just receive correct responses to their questions.
5. If you have been asked to make a presentation online, practising how to share your screen and timing your presentation correctly so it never exceeds the given time, is essential. Most importantly, don’t panic if there is a technical glitch – they happen to everyone, and it’s how you handle it that matters. This is a useful link for more tips on screen sharing.
6. For a face-to-face interview, it only takes 1/10th of a second for someone to assess you on meeting them. So first impressions such as arriving on time, wearing suitable clothing and looking confident, are all fundamental to how well you do in your interview. Bear in mind, you don’t know who it is sitting on reception – never assume someone is not involved in the recruitment process, so be out to impress everyone you meet. And remember that interviews are a 2 way process, and you are there to get to know these people and find out more about them, the organisation and the role, so have questions ready. Take a notepad and pen, and always phrase questions in a way that links back to the organisation.
For example not, “What is the salary?”. Instead, “I see from your report and accounts that your income is shifting from unrestricted to restricted funds: what effect is that having on HQ costs?”
7. Don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat or explain a question if you didn’t catch it in full – especially with two-part questions, much better that you seek clarification than answer the wrong question
8. Lastly, after the interview, always send an email to your interviewer thanking them for their time and confirm (or decline) your interest in the role. Ensure however, that you steer clear of using the opportunity to expand on your interview answers or try and impress on the interviewer that you are the right candidate. When used correctly, this may be the one thing that makes you stand out from other candidates who don’t bother with this small detail.
Good luck!
