Interview Preparation
As always preparation is key to giving you the opportunity to present yourself at your best the interview. A new job or promotion can make a huge difference to your life so always remember that you need to make sure that the role and /or organisation suits you and will develop your career in the direction you want to go. Below is a list of key points to help you feel really ready and prepared for your interview.
- Know where, when and who!
- It may sound obvious but this is a mistake that people often make. Check the time, address, name and contact details of the person or people who are interviewing you and carry that information with you so if something unexpected happens you can get in contact with the right people straight away.
- Plan your Journey.
- Again this is simple but often overlooked. Plan your journey, even do a practice run. Know how long the journey should take and always give yourself more time, there is nothing worse than turning up hot and flustered. It is much better to arrive early and then have half an hour in a coffee shop or park to go over your interview notes.
- Do your research.
- Nowadays it just is not good enough to have a quick glance on the web site. Take your time and read it all and see what else they do. Ensure you have a job description and try to find out a little about the roles of the people interviewing you, is it the HR department, a line manager or a company director? Take the time to prepare some questions that are relevant to the role and show that you have taken the time to get to know the organisation or company.
- Practice.
- Look on the web for interview questions and practice by having some fun with friends and family. Look at your CV and the job description and see where there are examples of previous experience that can demonstrate your suitability for the role. Think about difficult questions you may be asked and practice answering them.
- First impressions count.
- This is another obvious one that can easily be overlooked. Taking time and care over your appearance shows you take the interview process seriously. If you are unsure of the dress code you can always ask. Whether the dress code is casual or business attire the little things count, polished shoes, fresh breath and good personal grooming can never be a bad thing. Another rule of thumb is to have your outfit prepared a few days before the interview so you know you feel good in it, this avoids any stress on interview day.
- At the interview.
- Remember to shake hands, maintain eye contact and answer questions clearly and concisely. Use examples of demonstrable experience and above all remain calm, both parties are interviewing each other and the partnership needs to be right for both you and the employer. Take your time and think about the questions you are asked and if need be ask for the question to be clarified so you are confident that your replies are relevant. You may wish to take a note book with you to remind you of some of your answers or questions, or to take a few notes about the company.
- Ask for feedback.
- Even if you are unsuccessful at interview remember to contact the interviewer or agency and ask for some feedback on your interview process. Feedback, if available, is a really good tool for improving your interview technique and is always useful.