The results, gathered from a web poll over January and February of this year, show that most people (49%) believe that interaction with the interviewer is the most important factor in the success of an interview. This is followed by knowledge of the role and company (21%), while the least important factor was perceived to be appearance and dress.
Jo Rawcliffe, regional director of PCS, states that these results do reflect the more contemporary nature of interviews. “So many candidates feed back to us that, when they have had an interviewer who they managed to strike a chord with, the whole process seemed much less intimidating and success much more probable.”
Comments from Timothy Hawke, who enlisted the assistance of PCS following redundancy, also alludes to the fact that his recent interview success was largely down to the interviewers mutual interests. “I was lucky as in the first interview we realised that we both had an interest in archaeological digs and had even visited many of the same places! From that point onwards, I knew that I had it in the bag!”
Jo Rawcliffe continues to say that for most candidates, the interview ‘Holy Grail’ is to find that common interest or hobby with the interviewer, or even better a mutual contact.”
Jo however, also feels that the fact that so few people listed appearance and dress as a crucial factor in interview success is highly concerning. “So few people rated this, but it is still absolutely essential to make sure that you come across as smart and polished in any situation when you need to impress. After all, if you can’t make the effort for such an important event, what does that say about your work ethic?”
PCS Executive assist individuals from all sectors and backgrounds who are working in mid-senior level management positions. They specialise in helping people who are seeking a career change or career progression by providing bespoke career management programmes tailored to the individuals requirements. For more information please visit their website at www.pcsexecutive.com or call 0844 880 6690.
