Interview Tips
Attending an interview can be one of the most uncomfortable experiences in your working life, but with some good preparation and advice, it can actually be an enjoyable and rewarding step towards landing your ideal job. There is no way to guarantee that you won’t have ‘butterflies’ as you are waiting to be called in for your interview, but by following these simple steps, you will feel more confident and less stressed, than if you didn’t prepare yourself properly.
You have got this far already and the company who you are being interviewed by would not have invited you to attend the interview, if they were not interested. You should actually be patting yourself on the back for beating other candidates onto the interview shortlist.
Now that you have received your interview confirmation, you know that the company is interested in you and that they probably just want to find out a bit more about you, so you have a real chance to win them over by making a good impression in person, to supplement the information contained in your CV, which is what got them interested in the first place.
Consider the interview as your one chance to get it right, but at the same time, it is, after all, an opportunity for you to prove what you can do and how you can benefit their organisation if they choose to offer you the job. So here are a few basic tips on how to prepare...
- Visit the company website to familiarise yourself with what they do.
- Make sure you re-read the job description or advert. Take it with you to the interview, along with a copy of your CV.
- Write down a short list of questions to ask at the interview. This will show that you are prepared and have put in some thought.
- Make sure you have full contact details for the company, including the name and position of the person you are going to meet. Arrive around 10 minutes early, so that you have time to compose yourself and relax before going in to the interview. Take a few deep breaths and think positive.
- Give a firm, but not crushing handshake when introduced and keep good eye contact throughout the interview, without staring. It is always best to smile when meeting someone, so think positive and greet in a polite and friendly manner.
- Be conscious of your posture. Sit up straight, do not slouch, or tap your feet or fidget, even if you are nervous.
- Listen carefully and don’t ever talk over the interviewer. Wait for them to finish speaking and then give your answer or question in a positive tone. If you are unsure of a certain question, ask for it to be explained. It’s better than giving an answer to a question that you don’t understand.
- Be honest. False information or blatant exaggerations have a nasty habit of rearing their ugly heads at a later stage, which can only be bad news for you.
- Towards the end of the interview, after you have asked your questions, it is a good idea to communicate your interest in the position, if you want the job.
- Finish by thanking the company for taking the time to see you and that you hope to hear from them soon.