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4 Ways to Mentally Prepare Yourself for Your Next Interview

Jonathan Shepherd-Stubbs • 4 December 2022

The chances are that you have felt that nervous ‘butterflies in your stomach’ feeling when it comes to an important event or interview, the thing is with interviewing for a new job is you sometimes want that job but more often than not, you need it. Here are our top 4 ways to mentally prepare yourself for your next interview to give you the best chance at securing that job!

 

Know Your Stuff

The more you know about the potential job, the company, their ethos and the role, the better prepared you will feel walking in to interview with them. Do your research and find out everything you need to know or might be asked in the interview, this will calm your nerves and leave you feeling better mentally prepared on the day.

 

Practice Positive Self-Talk

If your brain tends to look on the negative side, try not to list all the reasons you won’t get the job and try to look at it from a new perspective by listing all the reasons you are perfect for the new role, not only will this quieten down your own negative self-talk but you will walk into the interview with a new confidence and this will shine through to your interviewers.


Prepare Prepare Prepare

This doesn’t just apply to the usual preparations as interview day looms such as researching the company, revisiting your CV and making a mental note of all of your skills and qualities but the practical things too: How far do you need to travel? What time do you need to leave to get there on time allowing for delays? Do you have enough petrol in the car? What will you wear to the interview?

 

Remember, Your Interviewer is Human Too

It’s easy to build up your interviewer or potential employer into a larger than life character who is only there to catch you out or highlight your shortcomings but they are human too, with their own fears, inadequacies and reservations. Remember when you walk into the room that they would love nothing more to find their perfect candidate in you too.

 

We hope our top tips have helped you better mentally prepare for your next interview. We wish you the best of luck! If you need more help and advice around employment, please contact us and one of our team will be happy to help.

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LinkedIn Poll Results - January 2025

by Simon Clark • 17 January 2025
As we step into 2025, it's crucial for professionals and businesses to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead. Our first LinkedIn poll of the year asked industry leaders and professionals to identify what they believe will be the biggest challenge facing their industry this year. The responses shed light on the diverse obstacles different sectors anticipate as we navigate through 2025. The poll results revealed a clear concern, with 'Skilled Labour Shortage' leading as the predominant challenge, cited by 40% of respondents. This highlights an acute issue across industries: the struggle to find adequately skilled professionals. This shortage can hinder growth and innovation, emphasising the need for enhanced recruitment strategies and perhaps a greater focus on training and education within companies. Both 'Regulatory Changes' and 'Technological Advancements' were each seen as the biggest challenge by 20% of participants. These results indicate a landscape of rapid change, where staying compliant with new regulations and keeping pace with technological evolution are critical for maintaining competitive edges. Similarly, 'Economic Fluctuations' were also viewed by 20% as a significant challenge, reflecting concerns over market stability and the broader economic environment that can impact business operations and profitability. These insights are crucial as they highlight the multifaceted challenges industries face in 2025. For businesses, understanding these potential hurdles is the first step toward mitigating their impacts. It suggests a need for a proactive approach in workforce development, regulatory compliance, technology adoption, and economic resilience. If you would like to speak to a member of our team about the results from this month’s poll or maybe looking to recruit and expand your team in 2025, click here to get in touch.

Employers - What are the Top Red Flags on a CV?

by Jonathan Shepherd-Stubbs • 2 January 2025
When reviewing CV’s, employers often encounter common red flags that can indicate potential issues with a candidate. Whilst no single red flag should automatically disqualify a job seeker, it’s important to pay attention to red flag patterns that could be a concern for you moving forwards. Here is a look at some of the most common red flags employers should watch out for when reviewing a CV. Unexplained Gaps in Employment Gaps in a candidate’s employment history can be a natural part of a career journey but if those gaps can’t be explained, that could cause a recruiter to look at the application more closely. Most gaps can be explained if the candidate has taken a career break to move into further education, travel or raise a family but it’s wise to ask for context from the potential employee for significant periods of inactivity. Frequent Job Changes Moving from job to job quickly can sometimes reflect ambition and a desire for new opportunities but too many job changes in a short space of time could also portray that the candidate shows instability or lack of commitment to their career and could be someone who isn’t going to stick around to grow within the company. Typos and Errors A CV is a candidate’s opportunity to create an excellent first impression and a CV full of spelling and grammatical errors can create doubt about their attention to detail. If a candidate can’t take the time to proofread their CV, it could be a sign that they might not put in much effort to their job responsibilities. Overuse of Buzzwords The overuse of buzzwords and generic terms such as ‘team player’ ‘dynamic’ or ‘passionate’ have become red flags. Whilst these words can be used genuinely, they often lack real substance unless the candidate has explained how they have demonstrated these qualities. If it looks like the candidate is just trying to fill space on their CV, they probably aren’t a good fit for your company. Lack of Quantifiable Achievements A CV that lists responsibilities without demonstrating how a candidate contributed to their previous employers success won’t add much value. Employers want to see results, so the candidates that highlight specific achievements or improvements that demonstrated their impact in previous roles is a winner. A Generic CV If a CV comes across as a generic one that could have been sent to a lot of employers without addressing the specific requirements of the role, this could show a lack of interest or effort on the candidate’s part. Tailoring a CV to highlight the most relevant skills and experience to the job posting shows that the candidate is serious, interested and committed. As an employer, reviewing CV’s carefully can save you time in the hiring process. Whilst one or two minor red flags might not be a reason to discount a candidate, larger patterns of inconsistencies or lack of professionalism shouldn’t be ignored. Keeping our tips in mind, you can make informed decisions and ultimately find the best person for the role. Are you struggling with finding the right candidates for your vacancies? Reach out to us today to learn how we can help streamline your hiring process and connect you with top talent.
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