So, your great new CV and covering letter have convinced the employer to call you for interview. As you’ve made it this far, the last thing you want to do is blow it by doing something silly. So, ask yourself these questions – do you know:
- what is appropriate behaviour?
- what you should wear?
- how to address the interviewer?
- what questions to ask?
If you don’t, you should find out as it’s vital, when faced with fierce competition, to be as prepared as you possibly can be! So, read through the tips below and you’ll be wowing interviewers and getting the jobs you want.
Tips for a Great Interview
Tip 1 – Know the Company
This has to be one of the most important things you can do before you attend an interview. Make sure you know as much as you can about the company. You can do this by getting hold of company reports, advertising literature, contacting them and asking for promotional literature or simply reading all about them on their website. You can even search using Google to see if there have been any articles written about the company. You should be thinking about the answers to the following questions:
- who are they trying to sell their products to?
- what products or services do they offer?
- what the job involves? This will help you to explain how your skills will meet the needs of the role.
Tip 2 – Be on time
This is pretty much a necessity. However, if there is a valid reason as to why you are not able to get there on time – say there’s been an accident or the road is blocked and there’s nothing you can do to avoid a delay – call the interviewer and explain as soon as you can. If you simply turn up late, without an explanation, it creates a terrible impression of what kind of employee you’d make. It’s likely that the interviewer will refuse to see you and that will be the end of it. An incident like that may also affect your chances of getting any future positions advertised by the company, so the best advice is to be on time!
Tip 3 – Be neat and tidy
Turn up looking smart. The interviewer will not be impressed if you attend the interview in a pair of scruffy jeans and T-shirt, unless you are applying for a job that allows you to be that relaxed. If you are not sure, always dress smart in fresh, clean clothes. Make sure your personal grooming is good too – tie back long hair and, ladies, keep make-up to a minimum. Remember, if you look good, you’ll feel good.
Tip 4 – Anticipate what questions you may be asked
This is a great way to prepare your responses. Use the person and job descriptions given to anticipate what the interviewer will want to know about your skills and experience. It is also likely that they will ask you why you want to work for them, what attracted you to the position, what practical examples you have of your skills and so on. Have clear, concise answers ready and, above all, be honest. If you try to convince the interviewer that you simply cannot wait to start working for their company and don’t mean it – they will be able to see it.
Tip 5 – Role play
It’d be good practice to role play the interview with a friend pretending to be the prospective employer. Practise making eye contact, talking in a clear manner and not talking too quickly – people often do this when they are nervous. You could even decide on and practise how to shake the interviewers’ hand – remember a handshake can say a lot about you. Many people dislike limp handshakes so make yours firm, shake two or three times and then let go. A firm handshake will show confidence.
Tip 6 – Be on your best behaviour
This is one time when you really need to be well mannered. That means you should not, for instance:
- slouch
- chew gum
- gaze around the room or out of the windows
- swear
You should try to do the following:
- make eye contact
- be positive and friendly
- sound clear and concise
- say please and thank you
And, these rules don’t just apply while you are in the interview itself. Often, employers also ask others who’ve encountered you what their impressions of you are. So, this means being polite to everyone you meet.
So, there you have it. You now have all the tools to get yourself that job you’ve been after. If you can think of any other advice that would be useful to others, let me know.
