The Job Hunting Tips You need in 2023: The Interview

Interviews are never easy, no matter how prepared you may be. And while there’s not an exact science to nailing an interview, there are several ways you can perfect your approach to interviews to help you bag the job you really want in 2023.

According to data compiled by online CV builder Zety, on average you need to send between 30 and 50 applications to get hired, and only 10% of job applications result in interview invites. Couple that with the research from global organisational consulting firm Korn Ferry which states that it only takes seven seconds for someone to form an opinion after you’ve met, and it’s clear that in order to not only get your foot in the door but firmly on the career ladder you can’t leave anything up to chance.

Here’s what you need to know to get a great new role in 2023.

Get organised

If you’re not organisationally inclined, naturally, and keep track of your to-do lists on a single scrap of paper, it could be time to reconsider your approach (or lack thereof) and create a proper filing system that includes all your essential documents in one place, such as your master CV, cover letters, along with your answers to some of the most common questions asked in an interview.

You should also track everything that is happening during your job search in a spreadsheet so you’re prepared when you do get called for an interview. Whether you opt for a simple Excel document or want to take things up a notch with a colour-coded Trello board, you should keep a record of key information pertaining to each job. This can include:

Job title
Salary range
Date applied
Contact name (if any)
Interview date
Thank you email sent
Job offer details (if any)

Spruce up your space

You might be used to blurring your background for colleagues (or leaving your camera off entirely), but it pays to prepare your background so that you look professional but also feel comfortable in front of the camera if your interview is being conducted remotely––good lighting and a plain white background with no distractions is best. Plus, if you’re applying for a remote role, chances are every interview will be conducted remotely too so getting your space set up is essential. Companies like Airbnb and Google are currently recruiting for several remote roles.

Prepare for “Tell me about yourself?”

While some companies, particularly tech companies, are known for asking out-of-the-box questions, sometimes it’s the most simple questions that can throw us off. “Tell me about yourself?” can strike fear into the heart of even the most prepped candidate and if you haven’t rehearsed what you’re going to say, can lead to you veering off course into a tangent that is hard to come back from.

Instead of just rehearsing your CV and citing what your interviewer already has in front of them, think about how your skills and expertise can be applied to the job you’re interviewing for. Then use this information to create a narrative that illustrates who you are and what you’re capable of and crucially, how you can apply these attributes to the role at hand.

Know the right questions to ask

An interview is a two-way conversation and asking questions is a great way to find out important information like what the company culture is like or how diverse the team you could potentially be working with is. You should have a good understanding of this information ahead of the interview from your own prep but getting the hiring manager to speak about these kinds of topics will give you an insight into how seriously they’re taken or how passionate the leadership team are about these issues.

Take ITV as a good example. The organisation, which is currently hiring, has created a Diversity Acceleration Plan to make working conditions better for disabled talent working on ITV programmes. Banking giant Citi publishes an annual diversity and inclusion report to enable an equitable culture for its staff.

Send a thank you note

So, you’ve returned from your final interview round and have filled out your Excel sheet/Trello board with all the vital information you need for your personal records. Now what? Instead of constantly refreshing your inbox or checking your phone has full service every couple of minutes (it has), take the opportunity to send your interviewer a short thank you note.

New thinking suggests that sending a post-interview thank you note is more effective than you realise—research conducted by TopResume in the U.S. found that 68% of hiring managers and recruiters found that a thank-you note matters and nearly 20% revealed that they have dismissed a candidate in the past if they didn’t receive a thank you note.

The key to nailing your thank you note is to keep things concise and professional but don’t shy away from referencing something you discussed in the interview like company culture or the team’s plans for the future.