What Employers Look for in a Job Interview

Introduction

Recruiters and hiring managers often want to know more about a potential candidate than the information provided on their resumes. This extensive interview process is designed to uncover certain skills and qualities within the candidate, which could decide if they will be successful in the role. This blog will discuss some of the main topics that interviewers consider to gain a better insight into a candidate, and what employers may be looking for.

What will you be like to work with?

The first part of any job interview is focused on introducing the candidate, and getting to know them better. As well as showcasing technical skills, a lot of the success in the interview will lie within the social side. In this factor, the interviewer will be looking to see the person’s communication skills, approachability, collaboration and their team working abilities. To ensure all these areas are successfully presented to the interviewer, some advice would be to ensure you are confident, approachable and open. Giving answers as an example of how you have resolved tasks or difficulties in the past works well to demonstrate your ability.

Can you learn?

A skill that employers often look out for is learning. By monitoring the way a candidate deals with difficult questions or confusion, employers can gain a general perception of the candidate's eagerness to learn. The best way to demonstrate this is to be honest if the question is confusing or difficult. Showing the interviewer that the candidate is open to learning will stand them in good stead, as employers are looking to see if new techniques and processes can be learnt quickly.

Do you take initiative?

The ability to take initiative is also an important factor in an interview, as employers are looking for a candidate that can think on their own, come up with solutions and be resilient. The best way to demonstrate initiative is to come to the interview thoroughly prepared, with questions from the interviewer and knowledge about the company. Research prior to the interview will benefit the candidate, as it will give the interviewer an insight into the level of initiative taken within the preparation process.

Conclusion

In conclusion, employers will be looking at numerous elements within an interview, in order to gain an insight into a candidate’s capabilities as well as their exact fit for the role. By showing the interviewer social confidence, openness to learning and initiative taking, these qualities will stand out to the employer and provide an edge to the interview. Ultimately, approaching the interview with an interest in the company, a desire to learn and an eagerness to impress will be important in standing out amongst other candidates.