Research shows that people make
their mind up about someone in the first few seconds of
meeting them. So, it's best to get off to a good start from
the outset. No matter how well qualified you may seem 'on
paper' for a job, when recruiting, an employer will still be
interested in your personality and presentation. Indeed with
more than one suitable applicant for a role, interview
performance is often the deciding factor in getting the job. This makes the
face-to-face meeting a critical part of the recruitment
process and you will need to impress from the start. If you
are having a telephone interview, try and get your personality
across by having a very positive telephone voice, speaking
clearly and precisely. The following preparation guidelines
below will help you overcome an interview nerves and instill
confidence for a productive meeting with your potential
employer.
Practical Tips
- Double-check the date, time and location of the
interview and be familiar with the name and title of the
interviewer. Take your interview confirmation letter with
you.
- Prepare your interview outfit in advance - all of it.
Ensure your appearance is both smart and comfortable.
- Familiarize yoursel with the journey to the location, to
ensure you arrive in plenty of time. If driving, do a 'dummy
run'.
- Anticipate delays, especially on unknown routes. Contact
your interviewer swiftly if you unavoidably delayed on the
day.
- Do not arrive over-laden with belongings! Take any
requested certificates, references etc, a spare resume and a
notepad and pen. A mobile phone is always useful, but ensure
it is turned off before arriving at reception.
- Be punctual for your meeting, but it is inadvisable to
arrive more than an hour early. Leave yourself enough tiem
to use the restroom and freshen up if necessary.
- Remember that you start making an impression on your
prospective employer the moment you arrive at reception. Be
courteous to the receptionist and any other staff you may
meet prior to your interview. The opinion of you is often
sought and may even have some influence of the final
selection.
Research
Find out as much information as possible about your
prospective employer in advance. Many now have websites which
are packed with information. Familiarize yourself with mission
statements, past performance, future goals and current analyst
ratings. Be aware that if your prospective employer does not
have a comprehensive website, you may seriously compromise
your chances if it becomes apparent you have not taken time to
research it.
If there is no company website, it is
still easy to research your employer. All national newspapers
and professional magazines have online sites with archive
articles. You can also use search engines such as Google, by
entering the company name. Talk to anyone you know who has
worked at the organisation. If all else fails, try phoning the
company and requesting general information.
The Interview
Greet your interviewer standing, with a strong, firm
handshake and a smile! Good body language is vital. Sit up
straight with both feet on the floor. Speak clearly and
confidently. Try and maintain a comfortable level of eye
contact throughout. A standard interview will generally start
withan introductory chat, moving on to questions specific to
your application and experience. General information about the
company and role may follow, finishing with an opportunity for
you to ask your own questions.
Be familiar with you resume and prepared
to answer questions from it. Similarly, ensure you have read
any job description thoroughly and think of ways in which your
experience will benefit your potential employer.
LISTEN to what is being asked of you.
Think about your answers to more difficult questions and do
not give irrelevant detail. Give positive examples from your
experience to date, but be concise. Avoid one word answers,
however. Prepare yourself in advance for likely questions.
Be ready to ask questions that you have
prepared beforehand. This can demonstrate you have thought
about the role and done some research on the organisation.
Ensure they are open, thus encouraging the interviewer to
provide you with some additional information.
Show your enthusiasm for the role, even
if you have some reservations. these can be discussed at a
later stage.