UK Employment – 7 Advice for a Successful Job Interview

Going through job interviews to land good UK employment can be stressful, especially if you’re applying for your first job. According to published reports, average job seekers go through 2-3 interviews before getting a job offer, with average professional interviews lasting 45-90 minutes. This translates to a 12-14% interview-to-hire conversion rate for top-performing industries like IT, healthcare, hospitality, and business-related niches. Whether you’re looking for UK employment as a UK resident or as someone planning to move abroad, preparing for your job interview is essential for success.

Recent data has also shown that 91% of CVs are more successful when they contain data and experience closely related to the job position in question. This is further complicated by the finding that 85% of job applicants lie or embellish certain facts on their CVs, making detailed job interviews and candidate tests a must. Here’s how you can prepare for your future UK employment so that you can land the job more easily through Jobs OneGlobe.

1. Differentiate Between In-Person and Online Interviews

Given that you’re likely to apply for UK employment from abroad, you’ll have to prepare for an online interview. There are many differences between having an in-person interview compared to doing it online. Based on statistical findings, almost 60% of people prefer video interviews stating that they have the same effect as in-person ones. With 37% of job seekers reporting that their interviews were shifted online due to the pandemic, this trend is poised to continue throughout 2022.

Your online interview can be just as successful as an in-person one if you treat it with equal importance. Dress well, comb your hair, clean up your room, and prepare good lighting so that your interviewer can see you. You might be looking for UK employment from a different time zone compared to UK standard GMT+0, so consider that. Your interviewer will appreciate it if you adjust your schedule to accommodate for the interview during their working hours.

2. Do Some Background Research on your Employer or Recruiter

Every CEO, interviewer, or recruiter will appreciate your foresight if you go ahead and research their company ahead of the interview. Find out as much as you can about the company you’ll potentially work for to avoid uncomfortable situations later on.

Your UK employment will be as enjoyable as you are happy with the position you will fill in the company. Look for online reviews of the company, testimonials of past employees, research their portfolio, and go through their online PR. Ask your interviewer why the position you’re applying for is vacant, how big your team will be, and what they’d like to see in their employees. Being proactive during your interview for UK employment will significantly improve your odds at landing the job, provided you’re satisfied with what you hear.

3. Never Be Late to a Job Interview, It Sets a Bad Precedent

Whether you end up having your job interview online or by visiting the UK employer personally, make sure to never be late. Prepare your day and schedule well in advance knowing that you will have an important meeting to attend. The employer will have taken time out of their day to see you, talk to you, and discuss potential employment prospects within their company.

Show them the same courtesy and be there on time. This is equally important for online interviews and especially if you and your employer don’t share the same time zone. UK employment will require you to adjust to a GMT+0 time zone even if you end up working remotely for a UK employer. Show professionalism and foresight by being punctual and showcasing that you are a reliable individual worth hiring.

“Opportunities don’t often come along. So, when they do, you have to grab them.” – Audrey Hepburn

4. Prepare for Possible Tests During the Interview

Depending on the type of work you’re applying for, employers might be inclined to test your skills during the interview. Positions based in IT, marketing, customer support, and other digital niches are test-friendly. However, if you’re applying for hospitality, logistics, construction, or other positions, your testing may be relegated to a few questions.

Make sure that you’ve reviewed your CV before the interview and thought about potential questions and test scenarios. Read through the UK employment job listing again and see if the employer has already informed you of a probable test happening during the interview. These tests are often no longer than 10-15 minutes but they serve the purpose of shortlisting candidates for high-level and critical positions.

5. Smile and Be Confident in Your Abilities and Personal Value

Confidence is your most valuable selling point as a candidate for UK employment. You need to show how sure you are of yourself and your abilities if you want to land a great job position. This means smiling politely, maintaining eye contact, and actively listening to your interviewer. Be attentive and present at the moment during your interview – turn off your mobile phone and eliminate any distractions from your surroundings.

Online interviews are more difficult in this regard because you’ll do them from home more often than not. It’s also very important that you respect yourself and know how much you’re worth it as an individual. You are in no way worse or less worthy than the person interviewing you – understand that and your confidence will shine through.

“Find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it.” – Katherine Whitehorn

6. Answer Every Question Truthfully and Without Embellishment

There’s no point in lying or omitting certain information during your job interview for UK employment. This is especially true if you’re applying for work from abroad and will naturally need assistance in moving, applying for Visa, etc. Make sure that all of your CV skills are truthful and that they correctly reflect your actual skill set. Be ready to answer some questions regarding your formal education, past employment, hobbies, etc.

These questions will illustrate how knowledgeable you are of the industry, how well you express your thoughts verbally, and how professional you are. Even if you pass an interview by omitting certain facts, your employer won’t appreciate that once they find out the real truth once you’re hired. Play to your strengths and characteristics and the right UK employer will recognize your potential for what it is.

7. Always Ask for a Follow-Up Interview, Email, or Phone Call

As your interview for UK employment ends, your potential employers will ask you whether you want to ask them anything about the job. You can ask them about the staff’s everyday workflow, how the position you applied for collaborates with others, and what they expect from potential hires. You should then follow up by asking your interview when you can expect them to get back to you.

Asking for a follow-up for UK employment, either via email, phone, or another short interview, is very important. You don’t want to be left in the dark for weeks or months on end without a concrete answer as to whether you’re hired or not. You can ask for a follow-up via email as well if you don’t want to address the question during the interview itself. Be upfront, professional, and polite about how you ask for the follow-up, and make sure to keep checking your communication channels.

You don’t want to miss the phone call or email when it happens so that you can respond to the follow-up shortly thereafter. If the response you’ve received is negative – don’t worry. There is plenty of proverbial fish in the sea and you can apply for as many UK employment positions as you need to. Once the right employer recognizes the value you can provide for them, you’ll realize that all the effort you put into preparing for job interviews paid off.

“One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.” – Arthur Ashe

Find your UK Employment with Jobs OneGlobe

Finding UK employment with Jobs OneGlobe will be relatively straightforward. But, you’ll need to prepare for your job interviews very well if you want to leave a good first impression. Landing great employment is all about finding a common ground between yourself and your employer or recruiter. Be professional, polite, and punctual and any interviewer will immediately give you extra points for effort.

Whether you’re applying for a position in a startup, a large enterprise, or an international company, UK employment can improve your CV and open new career prospects in the future. Being employed in the UK can become some of the best work you’ve ever put into your personal and professional development. Don’t let great opportunities pass you by and prepare for your interviews more thoroughly.