Things I wish I knew when preparing for interviews

Our President, Takudzwa Musavengana, shares some of the lessons he has learnt from a multitude of interview experiences.

You have applied for a graduate role or internship, you have passed the strengths-based and cognitive assessments, and now you are at the interview stage. This stage is crucial, as it is the firm’s first major opportunity to understand who you are away from your CV and cover letter. It can be harder to engage with the person on the other side of the line during phone interviews, and while video interviews can allow you to connect better through facial expressions and body language, they are not a full substitute for the interaction of a face-to-face interview.

Time constraints, nerves and mental blocks can make interviews a daunting prospect, but the first moment I received an email stating that I had an internship interview was an exciting one for me. My 100% interview success rate thus far meant that I felt rather calm and I was sure that I would do well. However, after a gruelling 30 minutes, I realised that an interview for a store assistant position at Sports Direct and one for an analyst at J.P. Morgan were very different experiences. After many failed attempts, I learnt many things which helped me pass this stage and subsequently secure an internship. These are just a few things which I wish I had known when preparing for interviews.

1. Thoroughly research the firm

Each firm is different. When I started applying, I believed that each firm was looking for the same thing, namely a detailed knowledge of the firm. Therefore, I created a simple one-page document which had information such as the firm’s revenues, the number of employees, the CEO’s name and so on. I would then collect these facts for each firm and made sure I learnt them. However, I found out that listing company facts to their employees was not what they wanted to hear. Interviewers want to know why you would succeed at their firm and understand your motivations for working for the company. It is therefore important to properly research the firm. Here are some key methods for doing so:

- Look at the firm’s corporate values and understand what they look for in individuals. You have to explain why you align with these values and be able to demonstrate instances when you have shown these qualities.

- Read the news and see what the firm has been involved in. Explaining why the firm’s business in the real world excites you is a great way to convey your compatibility.

- Research how the firm is evolving. For example, look at their use of new technologies, any initiatives they might have developed, and their new clients. On top of this, you should be able to explain how you can aid growth and fit into the company’s plans for the future.

Other things to do include researching the firm’s corporate performance, which can be done through reading annual reports; researching the clients and the sectors they are in; and researching the firm’s diversity and inclusion efforts. These are a few things you can do, and it is very important to do as much research as possible in order to allow yourself to be able to demonstrate why you are a good fit for the firm.

2. Thoroughly research the role

Just as each firm is different, each role is different. An analyst at J.P. Morgan will have very different functions and responsibilities to a wealth manager at JP Morgan. As a result, simply researching the firm is not enough – it is equally important to understand the role that you are applying and interviewing for. Some good ways to do this are:

1. Understand who you will be working with, the type of teams you will be working in, and how the office is important to the company.

2. Understand what you will be expected to do on a day-to-day basis, what skills will be necessary, and how this role helps the firm and its clients.

3. Understand how this role aligns to your career ambitions and goals and be prepared to explain these in an interview.

4. Do as much as you can to understand the role that you are applying for, so you can demonstrate how your skillset will allow you to succeed and thrive whilst in the role.

3. Use the STAR Method

It is vital to be able to communicate your research and experience in a way that is effective, coherent and engaging. In the pressure of an interview situation, it can be hard to efficiently condense all the important information that you need to get across during a few minutes. I remember rambling on in an early interview about things like each module grade, each society I attended, or my season as an u15 football captain - before realising that I had wasted most of my time without getting to the point of the question that the interviewer was asking. This experience helped me to realise the importance of planning in detail for potential questions. The STAR method is a fantastic structure that helps to answer questions under pressure and allows you to demonstrate the competencies that an interviewer will be looking for. STAR stands for:

Situation:

Think of a successful situation similar to the one the interviewer is asking about. This can be any story but make sure to include the five W’s: who, what when, where, and why.

Task:

Explain what your specific task was in the situation. Describe specific challenges that you faced in completing the task.

Action:

Outline exactly what you did. Explain how you completed these tasks, highlighting specific skills or traits you had to use which show you compatibility to the role, such as teamwork, organisation, and problem-solving.

Result:

Describe the outcome, and how you were specifically able to contribute. Explain what you learnt from the experience.

4. Resilience is crucial

The “thank you for attending the interview, but unfortunately...” email or phone call does not get any easier. The feelings of disappointment that inevitably come with such rejections have caused many capable people to give up on the prospect of succeeding at the interview stage, as they become increasingly disheartened. It is important to understand that this is a part of the journey. As is frequently stated, there is no such thing as a free lunch – therefore, it is essential to bounce back from rejection with thicker skin. Rejection is an important step, as it allows you to analyse previous mistakes you have made, and to become a better candidate.

These are a few things I wish I knew prior to my first few interviews. One thing I have learnt above all is that interviews are not just a challenge; they are also an opportunity for you to show recruiters exactly why you are the right person for the company. Having an internship increases your own personal skill set, employability, and allows you to experience many things which help you prepare for life after university – an interview is an unavoidable hurdle to gaining this experience, but if you follow the advice in this article, then you’ll have a much greater chance of clearing that hurdle.