It takes a very lucky person not to be a little bit nervous before an interview. For most of us, even if it doesn’t keep us awake at night, it will certainly be on our mind. After all, you want to stay true to yourself, but being in an artificial environment and under pressure can understandably make you feel quite self-conscious. So, grab a cuppa and a comfy chair and have a read of our suggestions on how to calm your nerves before an interview…
“By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail.”
…so said the very famous Benjamin Franklin. Remember, you don’t want to walk out of that interview wishing you had thought about some great answers before hand – there is nothing worse than drawing a blank in an interview or coming out and remembering afterwards what you could have said.
Yes, preparation is key, but also avoid overkill… it’s great to prepare, but don’t try to memorise everything. Focus on key points such as your strengths, relevant experiences and what excites you about the role. Then relax and trust that you know your stuff. You want to come across as yourself, but just you on your very best day…
Rehearse common questions with a friend or in front of a mirror. The goal is to feel comfortable talking about yourself, not to sound robotic.
If there are competency-based questions, yes it’s about STAR (situation or task, action and result) but mostly it’s about action. This needs to be thought about as it’s counter intuitive to how we normally live our lives, where we focus on the result.
In STAR, it has to be a specific example but remember it’s the middle part that is the most important aspect – the how part of the story. Think of it like a tale, where there is a beginning, a middle and an end. It’s the middle bit that truly engages the audience and bear in mind it must be in the first person, so I and not we.
Having a chat with a Senior Talent Manager, such as one of our Truestar Talent Team, means they can help you get this knack right. It’s really important, so it’s vital to practice and get it right. On the day, you want to be engaging, friendly and confident – not bunny in the headlights!
Instead of thinking of it as a test, view the interview as a two-way conversation. They want to get to know you just as much as you’re learning about them. You’re both exploring if it’s a good fit!
While you are busy finding out more about them, take a gauge on the people, not just the business – after all if this is going to be your long-term home in which you thrive, you need to feel comfortable with your colleagues. Weigh up how you were treated by the interview panel on the day and how open they were to answering your questions. Did you feel like they would make you feel welcome and supported?
Before the interview, take a few deep breaths. Breathing calms your nerves and clears your mind. Maybe have a good walk and a stretch before you get to the venue. If you feel anxious mid-interview, pause and take a slow breath. It’s perfectly okay to take a moment!
Also, if you find that you are talking too quickly (it can happen!), breathe in. Breathing in stops you talking, slows your heart rate and gives you a moment to reset.
Imagine yourself in the interview, feeling confident, answering questions smoothly, and connecting with the interviewer. Positive visualisation helps reduce anxiety and boosts your confidence. Visualise the outcome that you want, before going for the interview.
Remember to build rapport from when you first get there. Make a good first impression with reception and when walking to the interview room with the interviewer. You want to be engaging. Plus remember to thank them for their time at the end and say how much you enjoyed the meeting – it’s pleasant, it’s polite and hopefully by then, how you feel!
Try to establish a connection with the interviewer. Smile, make eye contact, and stay engaged, as you would when first meeting anyone you want to get to know better. When it feels like just a chat, it’s easier to relax and be yourself. Treat the interviewer as you would a new client… you want them to trust and like you.
Instead of worrying about future questions or how you’re coming across, focus on the present question. Ground yourself in the conversation happening now, and everything else will flow. It’s just like you would in a client meeting – you have to listen and then give the right reactions and thoughts, responding in the moment.
As we’ve stressed before, it’s totally fine to take a second to think before responding to a question. Indeed, pausing shows you’re thoughtful. It demonstrates your active listening skills and from the pause you can ask a clarifying question to ensure that you are answering correctly. Don’t rush – it’s a conversation, not a race!
Think about the most “terrifying” scenario, like a tough question you can’t answer. Have a light-hearted response ready, such as, “That’s a great question, I’ll need a second to think!” Humour can help break the tension. However, by properly preparing in advance, you can minimise the risk of being caught out by a curve ball question. Think through answers for every challenging scenario you can imagine.
Be brave and ask “What reservations do you have after meeting me today?” Listen to these and then respond appropriately – it might be that they missed what you meant, or they have misunderstood something, or there was something that you did not cover.
This gives you the opportunity to counter these in the moment, rather than not being invited back to the next stage. Be sure to ask if your response has now covered everything they wish to know, and if they have any other reservations. Check you have answered everything they needed, and thank them for their time, not forgetting to say how much you enjoyed meeting them.
Regardless of how you think it went, celebrate that you took the step! Reward yourself with something fun afterwards. Whatever works for you… it could be a great coffee as a treat on the way home, or something else. Interviews are just one part of the journey, and you’ve gained valuable experience.
Also, remember practice makes perfect, so practice, practice, practice.
You’ve got this! Just remember, you’re amazing, and it’s your time to shine!
If your wealth management interview is going to be a video one, then the same above ways to handle interview nerves still apply, but you might want to grab another brew and read our blog on video interview techniques for some extra tips – Video Call Interview Tips. Creating the Best Impression.
Another very useful article to read is Role Play in Interviews – Getting it Right this provide lots of valuable information about role play in wealth management interviews.
Keep calm, at Truestar Talent we are with you every step of the way. We will listen to your concerns, and can help you with your interview technique, suggest possible interview questions and fully talk through any areas where you feel you may have a weakness. You are not alone as we are here to help!
We are with you every step of the way, from firstly getting to know you personally, to finding out your wish list, to introducing you to people we know well, to supporting any assessments or business plans, to negotiating the offer. We remain with you post you starting, because once you know us you will always know us and probably be kind enough to recommend other people to us to help as well.
Our candidate experience is personalised to the individual’s needs. We listen to get to know you, make specific recommendations and deliver both consultative and bespoke solutions to your requirements. This is why we have such a high success conversion-rate and such happy clients and candidates alike. We actively ensure a great long term fit and enable people to show the truest version of themselves at assessments through STAR coaching when needed.
Just like any interview, face to face or on video, preparation is key as first impressions count. Showing how much you know about the company, could make the difference between getting that dream role, or it going to someone who did their homework, before the video interview.
Research and Planning – you can never do too much of this. Be your best prepared version of yourself. Practice – the technical stuff and the interview itself. Don’t forget to relax and smile – take deep breaths to calm nerves before the video starts. Let your personality and your interest in the company and role shine through!
No matter if you choose to be a Wealth Manager, or a Financial Planner in financial services, clients’ needs come first. If you are driven by the desire to support your clients with their wealth management needs, by truly getting to know them and listening to really understand their needs, then whichever role type you choose, you will do great things.
