5 top interview tips to secure the SuccessFactors and Workday contract

As a SuccessFactors and Workday contractor it is likely that you will do many more interviews than the average employee. These are our top tips for ensuring your interview runs smoothly.

1. Internet Access

Most of the contracts we deal with are remote and interviews take place online using Skype, RingCentral or WebEx. Dodgy Internet connections are becoming less and less forgivable in interviews. If your wi-fi keeps cutting out in that crucial hour then are you really in a position to take on remote contracts? You need to make sure that your broadband speed is the best it can be, you need to test it thoroughly beforehand and you need to have a back-up plan if it fails. Make sure you have alternative contact details to hand so that you can immediately explain the situation to the interview panel.

2. Up the professionalism

There are a few ways to increase your professional impression during an online interview. Get a good VoIP headset, test it, and use it confidently. It improves the sound quality greatly and it shows that you prepare properly and consider good communication a priority. Do remember to speak slowly and clearly though – especially because it is likely that your interview panel includes a variety of nationalities, mother tongues and accents. Also make sure you use a really professional looking photo as your profile picture – it shows attention to detail, which is essential for any SuccessFactors and Workday role!

3. Convey personality

Nothing is more off-putting for an interviewer than a stoney-faced candidate nervously looking at their computer screen. You need to smile, you need to listen carefully and whatever you do don’t be transfixed by your own image! The technology is a barrier to communication but the more you can do to get over this hurdle, act naturally and convey your personality the more likely it is that you’ll be hired. Practice with friends and family. Ask them to run through a dummy interview and get feedback.

4. The issue of notes in interviews

It’s a really good idea to spend time prior to interview preparing answers to questions that are likely to be asked but do you need to memorise them or can you have them with you as an aide memoire? It’s a tricky one but essentially there is no real answer and it depends on the interviewer. Some hirers see it as a positive thing and that it shows preparedness. Some hirers may see it as lacking in confidence or unprofessional. It is definitely a bad idea is to be reliant on notes and even worse, to read from them! Remember to keep that natural eye contact – if you are always looking down at your notes it can appear extremely rude.

5. Do your research

Don’t assume you know what a company is about. You may be familiar with them, their products or their corporate image but that is often not what they want to project about themselves. Go to their website, read press releases, read mission statements and get a solid idea of the declared aims and values of the company. Find out as much as you can about the structure and infrastructure. Know the names of the CEO, the CTO and any other relevant senior management. Your knowledge of their company is important and it is appreciated. Even if you are doing a 2-month contract they need to know that you understand and share their vision and values. The more you demonstrate the more you increase your chances of success!