Your CV has got you noticed by a recruiter but the hard work doesn’t stop here! The next stages are arguably the most important as you continue to prove that you are the most suitable candidate for the role.
In most instances, there are at least two interview stages; a telephone interview and a face-to-face interview (or a virtual interview). Some roles may hold additional interview stages or conduct role-related activities or tests to further assess your ability for the role. These could include presentations, technical testing or sales-based scenarios.
Regardless of whether you are interviewing on the phone or face-to-face, you should treat both as equally important, so to help you prepare and perform to your best ability, we would like to share our advice:
Preparation really is key. Naturally, interviews can be a very nerve-wracking experience but, as with anything, preparation (and practice) makes perfect. Set yourself up for success by adequately preparing ahead of the interview:
If you are invited to take part in the ‘Timed recorded video interview’, here are some top tips to support you during that assessment:
Understand the Format
Practice Common Questions that could be asked
You’ve prepared for success, now it is your time to shine. Whether you are interviewing on the phone, virtually or face-to-face, remember these tips to ace the interview:
Many of our assessment centres take place online and last approximately 3 hours, where you’ll participate in a mixture of group and individual exercises.
We want to support you to be at your best during your assessment centre, so check out our top tips:
Research – Make sure you have read up on Vodafone. Take a look at our values, purpose and the latest news. This can help in making your answers more relevant and show us that you have a good interest in Vodafone. Be ready to share your motivation for wanting to join us.
Be yourself – We want to hear why you are excited to join us, and the impact you can make with us. Share your own experiences; the outcomes and learnings you gained and most importantly let your personality shine through.
Consider your surroundings – During a virtual Assessment Centre, it is best to find a quiet spot with minimal distractions and clear of items or backgrounds that could distract your interviewer. Familiarise yourself with the video interview platform beforehand if possible, and ensure you have a sufficient Wi-Fi connection.
We recommend testing the technology ahead of your interview to ensure you can join the meeting promptly.
Teamwork – During any group exercises be collaborative, not competitive. It’s all about working as a team to find solutions. Have a solutions-focused mindset to help move conversations forward and make sure to communicate clearly. This will support you and your team well during the group exercises.
Listen to the question – One of the most important parts of an interview is to listen carefully to the question and pick out the keywords. Are they looking to understand how you work as part of a team, or do they want to know when you last met a deadline? If you are not sure what they are asking, ask them to kindly repeat or rephrase the question. Often, the interviewer won’t mind repeating and it is better that you are clear on the question rather than providing an answer that doesn’t fit at all.
Breathe – Before answering, take a moment to pause and think about your answer. Channel any nervous energy and maybe take a sip of water whilst you ponder the best example to give. Those few seconds can really help to gather your thoughts and provide a great answer. Ensure you are speaking clearly and not rushing your answers.
Structure your answer – You’ve got a great example from a previous experience so now you have to portray that to the interviewer. The greatest example could be lost if you don’t know how to communicate it successfully. Think about how to structure your answer so that the interviewer can clearly see the steps you took in that scenario and the outcome achieved. We often recommend to follow the STAR technique: Situation, Task, Action and Result to help you provide as much information to the interviewer as possible.
Answer truthfully – Ensure that all the information you are providing to an interviewer is accurate. You may want to sound like the perfect candidate in order to be successful, but you are likely to be caught out if you are not truthful. Besides, everyone has different strengths and development areas and we often look for potential; those who acknowledge their areas of development and are willing to learn and grow, just as our business is learning and growing too.
Ask great questions – All interviews close with an opportunity to ask questions. You may be interested in the latest projects they are working on, how the wider team is structured or even what they enjoy most about their job. Whatever it is, make sure you have some appropriate questions to ask, as this evidence your interest in the role. Think about these beforehand or enquire further into something they have spoken about during the interview, showing that you are interested in what they have been saying. Interviewers want those who join their team to be excited and aspire to achieve great things. Don’t forget to mention The Spirit of Vodafone!
Leave a lasting impression – Everyone wants to ensure that they are memorable and that their interview stands out against the other candidates. Sometimes, the thing interviewers remember most is the end of your interview, so be sure to end on a positive note. You should have the same energy leaving the room or ending your call, as you did when starting the interview. Thank the interviewer for their time and say a sincere goodbye.
We are all familiar with the journey home from an interview, never truly knowing how it went and replaying scenarios over in our heads, but our advice is not to dwell on it. Rest in the knowledge that you did your best in the moment and, whatever the outcome, it was all useful experience to help you grow and develop for next time.
