8 Interview Tips for Freelance Web Designers
blogIf you are suffering as a freelancer in the current economic downturn, it might be time to think about trying to get a job in an agency or at a larger company. Think of it not as a failure, but as an opportunity to acquire new skills and to enjoy the security of a regular paychecks and contracted holidays.
Once you’ve updated your online portfolio and you’ve tweaked your CV based on the job description there is every chance that you’ll be called in for an interview. This is the moment that most people dread, but there is really no need; as long as you get the basics right, you’ll be fine.
1) Research the company
To really do well in an interview you need to seduce the interviewees and to seduce them you have to show the company that you’ve got the attributes they want. A job description may give you a sense of what they are looking for, but only by doing proper research can you find out what they are really looking for. Mission statements are gloss, but it is in the products that they really show their strengths and weaknesses. Try to find out what the weaknesses are, where they can improve, what challenges they are facing. if you can tap into their needs then they will want to hire you.
As an aside, it is worth noting that the company will also research you — so make sure that you do a thorough google search and can justify all those snarky tweets.
2) Revise your answers
There is only one thing worse than seeing someone try to remember an answer that they’ve revised and that is someone being themselves and showing that they don’t care. About.com has a great list of questions that interviews might ask. Go through these one by one and answer them without looking at the sample responses.
3) Be smart and punctual
An interview is a formal occasion, where you have to condense your best qualities into a brief encounter. Dressing smartly is a form of shorthand to show that you respect them. Sleep well the night before, shave carefully, dress smartly. Make sure you get to the location of your interview with plenty of time, but don’t present yourself at the reception until a maximum of five minutes before the time you were asked to come in. Interviewers are generally busy people and will think of you as unprofessional if you arrive too early. Instead, find a quiet cafe or a park where you can go over your notes and calm yourself down.
4) Present an appropriate business persona
Whilst you should never be something you’re not, it helps enormously if you can present yourself in an appropriate way. Your persona should aim to be balanced: professional and friendly, relaxed but considered. Emphasise those aspects of your personality that are most appropriate to the role. When I was interviewing for a web designer, I was looking for a spirited, diligent, creative, hardworking team player who wanted to become excellent at what they do. These are values that are useful in any job, so make sure you present them.
5) Personalities
Judge the situation immediately, if the interviewer looks like boring middle management, then reassess your persona for that type. If they are expansive executive, be expansive. If they are sporty, look active. In Neurolinguistic Programming, there is a good deal of talk about mirroring other people. You should aim to mirror the interviewers and create a rapport with them.
5) Use Examples
If you haven’t had a key piece of experience in your job (for instance, experience of managing others), think back to a time in your life when you have shown leadership. Be present for what they say. Get rid of all your anxieties and focus on answering the question with a good anecdote. It is all very well saying that you are a fast learner, but it becomes much more convincing when you back the statement up with examples.
6) Don’t be verbose.
Interviewers are generally very busy, you should respect this by making sure that all your answers are well answered but not too long. Don’t bore them, be businesslike.
7) Ask intelligent questions
Always make sure that you have plenty of questions to ask. Saying that you don’t have any or that they have all been answered shows a lack of initiative. On the other hand, a good questions shows enthusiasm and engagement, it shows them that you have thought about the job. Here are a couple that that may prove useful: What is the company policy on staff developement? Where do you see my role going in the future?
8. Finally
Don’t worry. There is nothing you can lose from a job interview. The worst thing that can happen is that you get more experience about how interviews work.