How to Stand Out from the Crowd this A-Level Results Day

Today over 300,000 students have woken up to A-Level results. Some will have achieved their target grade; others will have been less successful and will understandably be disappointed. In fact, this year some 25.5% attained an A Grade or higher, the lowest since 2007 when it was 25.3%.

But whatever the results all students have one thing in common. They will all need to get through an interview – be it part of the clearing process for a change of course, or to ultimately get a job. It all counts for nothing if you are not successful at interview.

Much is written about interview technique but there is one simple thing candidates can do – but in my experience less than half actually do: research and preparation.

I have been interviewing candidates for nearly 20 years. Early in the interview I will ask them what they know about the company they are applying to, and the role they are applying for. It is a perennial frustration of mine that less than half have done any meaningful research – often recounting incorrect facts or admitting to having done little or no research whatsoever. 

In contrast those that have done the research and reflect on what they have found, are immediately on the front foot. They look motivated, it enables the conversation to flow, and it is a trigger for them to ask more informed questions.

Not only does it show that they are truly interested in the organisation they are applying to, it also shows that the candidate has done enough due diligence to assess whether this is likely to be the right role and employer for them.

We live in a digital age where it has never been easier to research potential roles and employers. Bishop Fleming, invests heavily in its website, and has a high profile across several social media platforms including Linked In, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Ten minutes of desktop research would enable any candidate to learn about our culture, our offering, how we work and the career opportunities available.  As an employer we want people to do well and demonstrate their strengths at interview – not least because it helps ensure we make the right decisions when offering roles.

You wouldn’t buy a car without doing some desktop research, but many candidates appear happy to embark on a career with an employer without doing likewise; and incredibly this issue presents in candidates at all levels – not just school leavers and graduates.  Preparation helps take away the nerves and allows candidates to be themselves, which is good for them and good for us.

So, if you have been successful in your A-Levels then many congratulations. If you have not been so successful – this is not the end of the road; today's results do not define you. But how you come across at an interview can do – and a little research will go an incredibly long way. You will stand out from the crowd as a result and that, surely, is what it is all about.

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