Here are a few guidelines to help make your interview a success:
1. Be prepared. Find out as much as you can about the company you are going to see. Research as fully as possible about the vacancy and check their website or go to the City Business Library, 1 Brewers Hill Garden, off London Wall, EC2 for extra information.
2. Arrive on time. Plan your journey, clarify addresses and ensure you have time to arrive with more than a few minutes to spare. Arriving hot and flustered is not going to enhance your chances of a successful interview. You need a clear, focussed head from the start.
3. Make a good first impression. It is said that a decision is made in the first 3 minutes of an interview. Smart, clean and neat presentation, a confident introduction and a firm handshake are essential. Dress appropriately for the company and in general avoid wearing all black or anything too sombre or flamboyant. Don’t chew gum or have overpowering perfume. In all, you do not need to be remembered for the wrong reasons.
4. Be aware of your body language. Try and relax, be yourself and avoid any extremes like slouching or over enthusiastic gesticulations! Being too intense can be as off putting as being too laid back.
5. Try to establish a rapport with the interviewer. Eye contact and a positive smile inspire confidence. In informal interviews, don’t become overly familiar and in interrogation-style situations, don’t be put off: the interviewer may simply be testing you in different situations. Stay calm, firm and professional and keep things in perspective.
6. Listen to the questions. Never jump in with an answer before the interviewer has finished the question and never ponder over an answer, leaving an embarrassing silence. Be honest. If you don’t understand a question, ask. If you don’t know the answer, say so, and explain that you are willing and eager to learn.
7. Avoid ‘yes’ and ‘no’ answers. Each question is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your suitability for the job but don’t waffle and don’t overdo it – the interviewer will make his/her own mind up that you are the right person for the job without being told.
8. Prepare for the common questions in advance so that you are not caught off guard. Strengths/weaknesses, ambitions, long-term plans and achievements are often asked about. Try to anticipate which situations are most likely to arise in the job, as the interviewer may want to know how you would deal with a specific problem or ask you to take part in a role play. Be prepared to back up your statements with evidence and practical examples from your experience. A good recruitment consultant will offer advice about how to tackle these if you are unsure.
9. Never criticise your current or previous employer. Prospective employers hate this and could see it as what you might say about them a few years down the line. Always use positive reasons (such as prospects or individual development) when asked your motive for leaving. Avoid any mention of personality clashes.
10. Believe in what you say and your enthusiasm and interest will win through. The interviewer will be seeing applicants of similar experience and background – it is always personality that wins the day.
11. Always have questions you can ask the interviewer about the company. These should be considered and appropriate and should not relate to salary or conditions of employment – these are issues for discussion at a later stage. Questions you may want to raise could include:
a. What are the company’s plans for the next five years and how does this particular department fit in? This is a clever way of asking how big is my job going to get and what are my chances of promotion.
b. What are the actual day to day responsibilities of the job? This should give you a clearer picture of what you will actually be doing.
c. Could you describe your management style and the type of employee that works well with you (in other words are we going to get on?).
d. How important is this department in relation to the other sectors of the company? This will determine hierarchy and any threatened cutbacks.
12. Don’t forget to thank them for seeing you at the end of the interview. If you are interested in the position then say so. Always depart with a firm handshake.
Remember that an interview is not a trial: it is an excellent opportunity to exchange information and explore a possible opportunity. Try and enjoy it!
Keep on touch with the company afterwards, or contact your consultant after the interview so that feedback can be passed on to the client. This will confirm your enthusiasm for the role. It may be important for your success to do this promptly and will ensure that you receive your interview feedback sooner.
HOPE THESE TIPS PROVE HELPFUL. GOOD LUCK!
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