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Six ways to show your passion for the job in interview

Allen Associates, News & Blog

To convince a company to employ you, you should demonstrate evidence of your passion for the job. While hiring managers will look to see if you have the right skills and experience, they also want to know how committed you are. Often, it can be difficult to find a balance between sounding excited and over-enthusiastic during interviews. If you’ve ever received feedback to say that you didn’t seem eager enough for the opportunity, you’ll be glad to hear that there are a number of things you can do to fix this.

Do your research

One of the best ways to show your passion for a role is to prepare beforehand. This is evidence that you’re taking the interview process seriously, committing the right amount of time required to perform well. But above all, doing your research shows that you’re genuinely interested in the company you’re applying for. Being able to answer the question, ‘what do you know about us?’ is a prerequisite for success. Beyond this, you should also have a good understanding of how a business differentiates itself from its competitors, as well as the visions and values which underpin how decisions are made.

Mention extracurricular interests

If you’re passionate about your industry, it’s likely that you’ll continue this interest outside of work. Particularly within creative occupations such as website design, content writing or photography, many Candidates continue these as hobbies during their downtime. Similarly, some people choose to use their professional skills to add value as a volunteer within community groups or charitable organisations. If this applies to you, these extracurricular activities are certainly worth mentioning.

Follow up after an interview

Many Candidates are unsure about contacting a hiring manager after interview. Some people think that this could come across as overconfident, while others worry that Employers will get frustrated by unnecessary communication. On the contrary, a well-worded e-mail can create a good impression, building on the positive rapport you’ve developed during your first meeting. Of course, it depends on the type of message you send. To give a rough guide, it’s best to keep things short. Start by thanking the interviewer for their time, reiterate your interest in the position and add a note to say that you’d be happy to provide any extra information if required. Another good way to show your continued interest is to connect with the relevant people on LinkedIn.

Bring your portfolio

If you’re a nervous interviewee, bringing a portfolio is a good solution. For many people, having their work in front of them and being able to talk about the thought process behind it is a good icebreaker. A polished set of designs or an accomplished website will demonstrate the passion you put into your work, helping to show how much you care about doing a thorough, high-quality job. Creating a portfolio will come naturally within some professions and may be more difficult in others. However, try to think outside of the box. It could be something as simple as creating a web page with quotes from clients who can recommend your services.

Use positive body language

Body language has a surprising impact on the way that you’re viewed by Employers. A survey of over 1,000 hiring managers found that 43 per cent would dismiss a Candidate if their posture or mannerisms appear unprofessional. The list of misdemeanours mentioned by respondents included failing to smile, fidgeting, bad posture and crossing your arms over your chest. To demonstrate that you’re listening and engaged, always maintain eye contact. Some experts also recommend mirroring – a technique which you to adjust your posture to reflect the person interviewing you. As a general rule of thumb, try to keep your body language open, reflecting the fact that you’re feeling confident and comfortable during conversation.

Ask insightful questions

During the first part of your interview, you’ll need to focus on answering the interviewer’s questions. But at the end of every interview, it is very common for hiring managers to open the floor to Candidates. This is a key moment, which will help you to show that you’re curious, inquisitive and keen to know more about the role advertised. Get ready for this by preparing a list of questions you’d like to ask beforehand. Although you may want to clarify salary, working hours and company benefits, you should always leave this to last. Instead, choose something which will generate conversation, allowing you to suggest ideas for improvement and demonstrating that you’ve really understood the place you’re applying to.

Over the last 20 years, we have grown as a business to become one of the leading independent Recruitment agencies in Oxfordshire, and in 2018 we opened our first London office, to service Clients and Candidates in the capital.

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