Just because you don't have a lot of experience, that doesn't mean a great job is out of reach. Actually, most employers will be looking for someone who can do the job and do it right, rather than someone with buckets of experience. The key is to smash your interview.
We've all heard the classics 'dress to impress' and 'think about your body language'. Now we don't want to bore you with information you've heard before. If you want to look like a gold-star colleague, you need to think like a gold-star colleague.
Whether you've got an interview lined up and you're looking for some advice or you're thinking about making that next career move, we've got you covered. Keep on reading for our four top interview tips for inexperienced candidates, or head straight to our contact centre roles to get your application started.
1. You can never be over prepared
If you’re to take just one piece of advice today, let it be this. No employer will ever finish an interview and turn to their colleague and say, 'Well, they prepared a bit too much'. It's just not going to happen.
The hiring manager has taken the time out of their day to consider you for the application process. So respect their time and put in some prep work. This might include:
- Prepare answers to common interview questions
- Recreate an interview setting with your friends or family to see how you cope with being in the seat
- Know the company inside out, from its products to the values
2. Never apologise for not having the experience
The hiring manager might ask you, 'Tell me about a situation where you made a customer feel special'. Now, you might not have worked in a customer-facing role, or you never had too many chances to go out of your way for someone. That's okay. The key here is to focus on what you would do.
In this case, you might answer something along the lines of, 'If I were to be chosen for this role, I would make sure to give every customer my full attention. That way, they'll know that I care and this will reflect well on the company'.
Plus, there are quite a few transferable skills for Contact Centre roles at Admiral, so experience really isn't key.
3. Don't over-explain your answers
A classic example of this might be an interviewer asking you to describe yourself in three words, and you get swept up in wanting to show the interviewer how great you are and end up telling them a story about how you went above and beyond in a job.
You'll hold the hiring manager's attention better if your interview answers get to the point. Remember, less is more.
4. Have at least three questions written down
Saying, 'I had a few questions, but you answered them all.' isn't going to cut it. Have a minimum of three questions prepared because you'll likely be able to tick a few off from what you cover in the interview.
Don't forget that an interview is a two-way street. It’s just as much a chance for the employer to see if you'd be a good fit as it is for you to figure out if it's the right company for you.
Here are a couple of questions that will get the interviewer thinking and give you more insight into the company and the role:
- What can I do in the first month to have the greatest impact?
- What do you like most about working for this company?
- How do you help your colleagues grow professionally?
- Can you tell me more about the team I'd be working with?
You're only a few clicks away from your next contact centre role
So there you have it, our top tips to help you smash your next interview, regardless of your experience. All that's left to do is put this into action and show us what you're made of.
If you take pride in your work and love to go the extra mile to make sure your team is successful, then we want you at our company. Browse our Contact Centre jobs and find out more about how you can prepare for success at Admiral.
