How to nail that job interview

You've cleared the first hurdle. They liked your CV, and want to find out more about you.

The next stage is make or break.

 

Interviews are important for any job, but in the people-focused travel industry, they are everything.

 

Nothing can guarantee you success, but there are many things you should (and shouldn't) do to improve your chances.

Before the interview

 

Whatever you do, do your homework. A lack of preparation will come across to your interviewers as a lack of interest in the job.

 

1. Do your research. Find out as much as you can about the company – its products, history and competitors.

 

Find out if it has gone through any recent changes, introduced something new, or won an award.

 

Look on the company's website and check out sources such as TravelWeekly.co.uk to keep tabs on what's been going on.

 

It's a good idea to have a feel for issues currently affecting the industry too – it shows that you are interested in the travel market as a whole.

 

2. Study the job specification carefully. Work out what you'll be doing and what skills this will entail.

 

Make notes about your experiences and achievements, and how they mesh with the skills the job requires.

 

Brainstorm examples to demonstrate these and note them down.

 

3. Think about how you might fit into the team and how you'd work with other staff members. Be prepared to give further examples.

 

4. Prepare a set of questions to ask the interviewer. These could cover anything from working culture to pay or training.

 

Write the questions down in a notebook – even if they have all been answered during the interview, this demonstrates you took the time to consider the issues.

Common questions

 

Certain questions come up in most interviews – make sure you've got answers prepared and consider rehearsing them with a friend or your recruitment consultant first.

 

Aim to be clear, brief, positive and honest. Focus on the employer's needs rather than your own. The final question is one that has tripped many people up in the eight years I've worked in the industry.

• Why do you want this job?
• Why do you want to leave your current position?
• What will you bring to the job/company?
• There's a gap in your CV – what were you doing then?
• Do you work better alone or in a team?
• Can you work under pressure?
• Can you manage your time? How do you structure your day/week?
• How do you handle constructive criticism?
• What are your short and long-term goals?
• What success are you most proud of?
• What problems have you encountered at work and how did you solve them?
• What motivates you?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

On the day

• Stay calm – you've prepared thoroughly for today and now just need to put this into practice
• Don't be late. Plan your route to the interview and take a map. Allow plenty of time – it's better to be early and wait than arrive late, sweating and in a panic
• Appearance counts. Look wear a suit, and keep make-up and jewellery to a minimum. Try to look professional – and don't chew gum
• Make sure your body language is positive. Start with a firm, confident handshake. Sit up straight, maintain eye contact with your interviewers and look focused. Don't fiddle with pens, or twiddle with hair – and remember to smile
• If you can't sell yourself, you won't be able to sell a holiday. Personality is incredibly important in the travel industry, so let yours shine through
• Finish the interview on a positive note – let the interviewer know you're interested in and enthusiastic about the position. Check what the next step in the process is and when you're likely to hear from them

And finally

 

Make sure you get feedback after your interview. Even if you're not successful this time, it could give you the clue you need to nail it next time.

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