Tips to succeed in interviews

by

Zean Mair-MacFarlane
Author's Note

We all know how stressful interviews can be. The

following book was inspired by my own experiences in
the architecture industry. It compiles the tricks, tips
and ideas that helped me successfully land jobs in my
industry.

Zean Mair-MacFarlane
2016
The Author

Zean Mair-Macfarlane completed his architecture

Master degree at the university of Lincoln (United
Kingdom). Macfarlane was able to gain a distinction in
his degree along with a RIBA Student Silver Medals
Nomination. Macfarlane has worked at renowned
practices such as Foster+Partners and David Collins
Studio.
 1
Rest

I'll introduce the book with one of the most important

tips. Get a good nights rest before the final day comes.
 2
Research

It's an obvious tip but a crucial one. Do your research

on the company. What are their ethics? What is there
mission, and how do you fit into that.
 3
Interviewer

As well as researching the company research the

person who is actually interviewing you. If the
occasion arises you can always show an interest to
their personal achievements. You would only know this
information if you researched them before hand.
 4
Role

What is your role? Analyse the job description and job

title. Have an understanding of what the job entails.
 5

Why you?

What do you have to offer to the company if you are

presented the job?
 6

Maths

Do the maths before the interview. Is the salary

worthwhile when you subtract all the expenses
involved. Think about travel, living costs, groceries and
socialising.
 7

Hand Shake

Give a good handshake, there's no need to over think

this one. My rule of thumb is to match the strength of
the person you are shaking hands with. A limp
handshake probably won't lose you the job!
 8

Posture

Back straight and no dragging of the feet!

 9

Maturity

Show the company that you're a mature and

responsible person. Every company wants to know
that they can rely on their staff.
 10

Appearance

Make sure your presentable. Although many books

and websites will tell you to wear your best suit, I
personally think it depends on the company. I think the
key is to look smart, clean and presentable. If the
company your applying for is more quirky than
corporate, they may appreciate a little personality in
your clothing choice.
 11

Punctuation

Arrive at least 20 minutes before the interview starts.

Better to be safe than sorry.
 12

Food

Eat well before the interview. I recommend light foods

and fruit. Avoid junk food and stay hydrated.
 13

Cater

Cater your CV to the job. In other words make sure

that your work experience is relevant to the job role.
 14

Don't Panic

Take interviews as a win/win situation. Why? Because

if you get the job you're a success. If you don't get the
job you've gained experience for another interview. In
fact not only experience but confidence. You'll be
better prepared for the next one!
 15

Portfolio

Depending on what industry you are in, you may or

may not need a portfolio. If you do, my advice would
be to make sure it's a suitable size. I personally
wouldn't go any bigger than an A3 portfolio. Many
people also use tablets to display their work.
 16

Questions

Have questions at the end of the interview. These

types of questions are normally based around the
research you have done. But try to be creative with
your question. Don't make it pointless, it would be nice
to ask them something that they hadn't heard before.
 17

Smile

A friendly smile goes a long way.

 18

Body Language

If you're reserved, try to come out of your shell for the

interview. Interviews in reality are short amounts of
time given to analyse a person in full. Give the
company an opportunity to understand your character.
Being introverted often means that it just takes longer
for people to see your personality. Speed this process
up if it applies to you.
 19

Off Guard

Prepare for those off guard questions. From my

experience they are the ones unrelated to the job role
and more about your personality, or how you may deal
with a situation within a team.
 20

Ask

If you are unsure of a question, be honest. A good way

to respond to this question is "Do you mean?" Or
"Sorry could you rephrase that please"
 21

Manners

It's an obvious one, but be polite during interviews.

This goes even if the person you are speaking to isn't
polite themselves.
 22

Printing

Anything that needs printing, print in advance. Give

yourself a checklist. They could include things such as
your CV, the address, portfolio, notebook, application
forms and your business card.
 23

Software

What software do the company use. You can normally

gauge this from the job advertisement. Give yourself a
once over on the stated software. This gives your mind
an update if it's needed.
 24

Weaknesses

What are your weaknesses? Not only for your own

understanding, but they may ask you it in the
interview.

Top Tip: If asked always admit to a weakness that can

be resolved in time. I.e lacking experience.
 25

Future

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? Again,

this doesn't just apply to your own growth but it could
also be asked in the interview.
 26

Strengths

What are your strengths. Be ready to sell yourself in

the interview. Know what you are good at, and explain
it with confidence.
 27

Location

Where is the interview? Have you been to the area

before. Find out how to get there, and have a plan B if
your first route is hit by delays.
 28

Anxious

We have all been anxious in our lives, including

myself. Earlier in the book I said to arrive 20mins
before the interview. If you are really anxious you can
always arrive an hour or 2 before the interview. This
way you can get yourself a coffee at a loyal cafe. It
gives you some time to calm down before the
interview starts.
 29

Reflect

Reflect before and after the interview. There's always

something to learn from the moments when we are
most worried.
 30

Professional

One of the key tips in the book. Stay professional in

and out of the interview. Compose yourself in a
responsible manner.
 31

Experience

Learn from the experience. If it's taking notes

afterwards or learning from how you composed
yourself. It's all part of your self-improvement.
 32

Plan B

From my experience it's always wise to have another

interview ready. This not only gives you confidence
that there is another opportunity on the horizon, but
also puts you in a stronger position if they ask you.
 33

Attention

If it's a small nod, or your engaging eye contact, show

the person that you are paying attention to what they
are saying.
 34

Understand

Make sure your CV is clear. Here is a challenge. Give

your CV to your grandma, if she can read and
understand it you are half way there.
 35

Previous experience

Be prepared to answer the question of, "where did you

work previously."
 36

Your work

Be confident with what you have achieved and the

work you have produced. People can often sense your
passion.
 37

Portfolio clarity

Just as your CV make sure your portfolio flows. It

should be easy to understand.
 38

Honest

Be honest and don't lie. If the person interviewing you

can't tell you are lying, the truth will only be unraveled
later down the line.
 39

Personality

Show some personality. Not only in person but in

everything you do. You are your own brand.
 40

Notebook

Some people advise to bring a notebook into the

interview. I personally don't. I prefer to maintain as
much eye contact with the person as possible. I would
advise as previously mentioned to bring a notebook for
the journey home and analyse the interview
afterwards.
 41

Now what?

When will the company get in touch with you? It's

normally stated in the interview but if it's not it's always
wise to drop it in at the end of the interview.
 42

Stay on track

Stay on the right topic. I've never heard of interview

that went really well through rambling on about
unnecessary conversations.
 43

Enthusiasm

Another top tip. Be enthusiastic. It links well with the

tips on personality. Show your hungry for the job.
 44

Motivated

Motivation is key. You almost want to hype yourself up

before you go into the interview. Believe that you're
the right candidate for the job despite all your
imperfections.
 45

Contact

Save the company contact number into your phone.

This is mainly to cover your own back in case of
delays.
 46

Point

Get to the point. Especially if you are asked a

question. It says a lot about a person when they can
be direct with their answers.
 47

Why?

This question might throw you off. But why that

company? Why do you even want to work there in the
first place. Even if your answer is a simple as because
I need the money? Make sure you have a more
appropriate answer in mind for the interview.
 48

Know

I've mentioned the importance of clarity in your CV

and portfolio. The next step is to know your work
inside out. When someone asks you about a specific
part you should know exactly what they are referring
to.
 49

Previous Interviews

Have you had interviews prior to this one? How did

they go? What did you learn from them?
 50

Groom

Make sure your looking as clean as possible. First

impressions count!
 51

Mints

Carry mints, not chewing gum. Chewing gum in

interviews looks unprofessional.
 52

"How are you?"

How many times have you had an interview? How

many times have you actually asked the person how
they are?
 53

Toilet

Use the toilet before the interview. There's no better

distraction than needing to go to toilet half way
through an interview.
 54

Spare CV's

Bring spare CV's. Sometimes there's a change in

who's conducting the interview. There may be a few
extra faces that you weren't expecting. It's great to
have some spare copies of your CV at hand.
 55
Phone

Make sure your mobile phones are turned off. At the

very least make sure they are on silent.
 56
References

How strong is your relationship with the references on

your CV? How easy is it to find their contact details?
 57

Skills

What are your main skills. What makes you an

attractive candidate for the job in terms of your skills?
 58

Last Job

A common question asked in job interviews is "why did

you leave your last job". Be prepared to answer this
type of question.
 59

Presentation

Are you presenting your work in a way that reflects the

profession you are in?
 60

Contact

If the employer wants to contact you are all your

details clear and available for them to access?
 61

Inspiration

Who inspires you in life. More specifically who inspires

you in the sector you are in. Sometimes a 30 minute
interview isn't enough time to understand somebody's
aspirations. By referring to those who inspire you, you
can often paint a picture of yourself quite well. Don't
overdo it though!
 62

Control

Let the person who is interviewing you stay in control

of the interview. You don't want to come across to
dominating. Save any questions you may have until
the end.
 63

Don't Interrupt

As well as your credentials, interviewers are also

picking up on your social skills. As mentioned before
don't dominate conversations unless it suits the role
you are applying for.
 64

Salary

Have your salary expectations in mind. There's

nothing wrong with pitching too high and coming down
on your price.
 65

Slow down

Having awkward pauses is better than talking too fast.

People can't understand a word you are saying when
you are in a panic.
 66

Composed

Don't speak badly of others in interviews (even if past

colleagues have been a pain).
 67

Thanks!

Simple tip that ties well with the tip about your
manners. Remember to say thank you for the
interview afterwards.
 68

Time

Be aware of their time. Understand that you may have

a lot to say about your own experiences or portfolio,
but the person listening to you really just wants to hear
the highlights. There's a skill to showing a lot of work
in a small amount of time.
 69

Pressure

Although your interview seems like enough pressure

as it is. It's quite often asked how you perform under
pressure. Have an answer ready for this type of
question.
 70

Teamwork

Another question that is often asked is "how you work

within a team." Most jobs involve a process where you
will have to interact with other people. Let the person
who is interviewing you know that you are comfortable
in these kinds of situations.
 71

Availability

Do you have any holidays booked? Are you ready to

start tomorrow if you had to? I always find that "I'm
ready to start next week" puts a smile on peoples
faces.
 72

Problems

How do you solve problems? How do you approach a

problem? These are also some common questions
asked in interviews.
 73

Loyalty

Show that you're a loyal candidate. You can express

this by letting the interviewer know that you're planning
to work there for a long period of time. Avoid sounding
like you want the job temporarily even if you do.
 74

Learn

Something that always intrigues me about people, are

the ones who are always and continually learning. I
always sell myself as this type of person at interviews,
as I think it's a positive attribute.
 75

Flexible

Show your a flexible and determined candidate. Are

you willing to put in the extra overtime? Will you put in
the hard graft when needed?
 76

Communication

Communication is vital. Pick up on the person's body

language, tones and facial expressions. Also be aware
of your own.
 77

Chinks in your armour

What are the chinks in your armour? Not only your

weaknesses but what is your kryptonite? You don't
have to voice this in your interview but always be
willing to improve on what it is.
 78

The best

What's your best piece of work? What are you most

proud of?
 79

Portfolio Tip

Make sure your first page and last page shows your
strongest work. Start and end on a good note
 80

Passion

Show some passion for the role. Compare it to other

roles you've performed in if you can. Be careful not to
sound desperate!
 81

How did you find the job?

This question is normally asked purely for the benefit

of the employer. They want to know which
advertisements are working. It's good to remember
how you did actually come across the job in the first
place though.
 82

Why now?

Sounds like another no brainer. But a lot of people

stumble on this question. Not necessarily why are you
applying for this job, but why the change, or why are
you applying at this moment?
 83

Size

What's the size of the company? This should be one of

the points researched before going for the interview.
 84

Advancing

I think a good question to ask towards the end of the

interview is "are there opportunities to advance". This
lets the interviewer know that you are serious about
the position.
 85

Negativity

How do you react to negativity? Not just for the sake of

the interview but for yourself. Do you take it on the
chin? Do you get aggressive or even depressed?
 86

What bothers you?

Everyone is different? A very important tip to

remember before taking your interview is that you are
interviewing them as well. Although you may feel as
they have the power, you actually have the power
also. It's very important to absorb the feel of the
company before accepting an offer. If the interviewer is
rude to you during the interview do you really think
they will be any different when you are working for
them?
 87

Pinterest

Are you in search for some inspiration for CV and

portfolio ideas? Search through Pinterest, Tumblr and
social media in general!
 88

Unique

What makes you different from the candidate that

came in before you. Remember despite the
credentials, CV, appearance and skill set. Sometimes
the asset is yourself, what you bring to the table as an
individual.
 89

Team

So they've asked you about how you socialise within

teams. But what do you actually bring to the team?
Skills, leadership, confidence?
 90

Experience

Not everyone has 20 years experience in one industry.

If this isn't you don't panic. Instead bring forward what
compensates your lack of experience. Is it your
willingness to learn? Or your sheer determination?
 91

Hobbies

Beyond the workplace what do you get up to? I always

find that hobbies surrounding your industry attract the
most interest. For example if you were a fashion
designer. But on the weekends you designed your
own accessories.
 92

Play off

Play off the person who is interviewing you. People

like to hire candidates that remind them of themselves.
 93

Layers

Seems strange to say but prepare for the environment

of the interview. You wouldn't be the first person to
sweat in an interview. Therefore prepare for that. Make
sure you can always lighten the clothes you are
wearing to cool down.
 94

Delays

Check online the night before for any possible delays

to your journey.
 95

Wait a minute

Remember that interviews aren't a game of junior

mastermind or who wants to be a millionaire. You have
nothing to prove in terms of your intelligence. You are
simply trying to express who you are, and what you
can do.
 96

Application form

Block capitals, black pen and keep it tidy.

 97

Always follow up

Once the interview is done remember to follow up.

This is more so if they have given you a date to be
contacted and that date surpasses.
 98

Recover afterwards

Interviews can be stressful. But not only that they can

be exhausting as well. Remember to get rest after the
interview as well as before it.
 99

Relax

The last thing you want to hear before an interview is

to relax. But it's helpful. Take a deep breath and
remember, before you walked into the interview you
didn't have the job. There is nothing to lose, only
something to gain.
100

Be

...Be yourself
Copyright © 2016 Zean Mair-Macfarlane

All rights reserved. Including the right to reproduce this

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text may be reproduced in any form without the
express written permission of the author.

Version 2016.10.01

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V0116ZMM
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