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1. First impressions count

Believe it or not – 5% of prospective employers decide whether they are going to hire you within the first 20 seconds and 30% within the first 5 minutes of meeting you!

The unspoken rule when meeting people in a professional setting is to dress for where you are going, not where you have been. Dress for the part. If you are unsure, default to the business suit. It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed – you can always ditch the suit jacket or tie if you are overdressed.

2. Bring your energy and passion

The most crucial point of making an impact during an interview is show them you want the role. If you’ve made it to the interview stage, chances are the interviewer already knows you can do the job – they are now wanting to see if you are a culture fit. So smile, be engaging, show interest and be yourself – if it’s a connection it will come easily.

3. Don’t talk too much (or too little)

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the interview is not all about you – it’s about the opportunity. A lot of us could talk for hours about ourselves. What you need to do is put your information through the ‘how can I add value to this company’ filter. If there is any additional information the interviewer would like to know – they will ask. On the flip side, be conscious of not speaking enough. This may come across as a lack of confidence in your abilities or that you are disinterested in the role.

4. Use the STAR method

The STAR method is a structured manner of responding to a behavioral-based interview question by discussing the specific Situation, Task, Action and Result of the situation you are describing. As humans, we connect with story-tellers. When asked to give specific examples of times you’ve added value in the past, be specific. Outline the situation, what action/s YOU took and what the result was. The key is to be clear on what actions YOU took in the situation – stay away from ‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘they’ where possible. The interviewer wants to understand how you’ve handled past situations. Remember – past behaviours predict future behaviours. Also, when possible use examples from different roles.

5. Prepare questions to ask!

Don’t get caught out when asked ‘So, what do you know about our company?’. Do your due diligence. Google the company, look up their website, read the CEO’s message. If it’s a publicly listed company, check the news and stock market for any recent updates. This applies for roles at any level.

This shows the interviewer that you’ve thought about the role and responsibilities and challenges you may be faced with – which will open up questions for you to ask.

Some great questions include ones around company culture, business and current challenges you would face if you were successful. This is your chance to impress them on your knowledge of their business.