5 tips for acing your job interview (at Morning)

At Morning, we generally put candidates who apply for our job openings through two interviews. Job interviews are always conducted in pairs: the first with the operational team, the second with an HR manager and a member of the relevant team (design, sales, management, and so on). If necessary, between these 2 interviews, the candidate sits a test to assess their skills. For example, for an interior architect role, the person will be asked to put together a moodboard; a communications applicant will be asked to write a nice little article (much like this one).

Whatever the interview, there are certain things to bear in mind to give yourself the best possible chance in your job search. That's why we wanted to share a few very practical tips here for acing your job interview.

Tip no. 1: Prepare for the interview,
“Google and LinkedIn are your best friends!”

It may seem obvious: you shouldn't turn up to a job interview empty-handed. And yet some candidates arrive without having genuinely grasped what Morning does and without knowing anything about the person they're about to meet. 

It really is very important to prepare, to read as much as you can about the company (press articles, blog posts, the website) and take the time to digest it all. Marie (Morning's HR Director) is the first to agree: “You spot very quickly the people who trot out ready-made phrases without really understanding them. It's very important to take the time to put things into perspective.”

Do take the time to find out about the recruiter you're going to meet. For that, Google and LinkedIn are your best friends. In short, take a genuine interest in the company you're applying to and in the people who work there.

(Read also: Company culture at Morning)

Tip no. 2: Stay natural,
“If you're nervous, say so!”

It's essential to show your true self. Easier said than done when you consider how much stress a job interview brings. The simplest thing – if you're feeling nervous – is to say so to the people you're meeting rather than trying to hide it at all costs. 

Marie is keen to flag a pitfall to avoid: “I always try to be friendly and welcoming to put the candidate at ease. But make no mistake: it's still a job interview. Sometimes people become too familiar. Be careful not to confuse being natural with being over-relaxed.”

So you'll want to avoid all the verbal tics, the endless anglicisms and other over-familiarities. Pay attention too to your non-verbal language, both before and during your interview. Smile, posture, tone of voice, eye contact… It all matters!

Tip no. 3: Build on the conversation,
“Spontaneity, the best way to introduce yourself.”

To stand out in your job interview, be spontaneous by creating a genuine conversation with the recruiter. Build on what's said, ask questions (forget closed questions). You need to get a discussion going… 

When you talk about your professional experience, bring it to life with anecdotes, stories and examples. Marie sets out her main aim: “Since I go a lot on feeling and instinct, I'm absolutely determined to draw out what's natural in people. I'm more interested in a genuine exchange than in assessing skills that have already been assessed in the first interview and during the various tests. »

Tip no. 4: Show interest,
“Always keep a few questions up your sleeve”

At the end of the job interview, there's a good chance the recruiter will ask whether you have any questions. Don't be caught off guard: always keep a few questions up your sleeve, even if you already did so in the previous interview. It shows your interest and helps get the discussion going again.

You can pick up on something that was said or, for example, ask questions about the company's future, its prospects or its ways of working… Do feel free to ask the person in front of you directly: about their role in the company, their day-to-day, their work… And if the recruiter doesn't invite you to ask questions, do it anyway!

Tip no. 5: Send an email after the interview,
“A few lines to leave a lasting impression”

A little bonus that always works is to hear back from the candidate once their job interview is over. A short email sent straight after the interview will help you stay fresh in the mind of your potential future employer. Make your interest in the role absolutely clear and do feel free to ask further questions to keep the conversation going.

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To browse all our job and internship openings, visit our Welcome To The Jungle page