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Job Interview Tips

Coping With Job Interviews

Tough Interview Questions

Assessment Centres - How to Succeed

Presentations

Body Language

Psychometric Testing

Behaviour Interviews

Telephone Interviews

Coping With Job Interviews

No matter what job you are applying for, the inevitable interview process is enough to make even the most experienced professional a nervous wreck!  Successful interviewees are those who have learnt to channel their nerves and use them to enhance their performance.

Preparation

It is essential to prepare carefully for a job interview, including researching the employer and the specific role you are applying for as well as writing down some key questions that you want to ask at the interview. The more information you are armed with, the better your chances are of sounding interested in the company and appearing keen to secure the position.

Plan the day carefully

It is essential that you arrive for the interview on time so it is useful to plan your journey. If you are driving be aware of any potential road works that may cause a delay and if travelling by public transport make sure that you get the bus or train that is guaranteed to deliver you to your destination in plenty of time, allowing for possible hold-ups.

First impressions count

Make sure that you know the name of the person that you will be meeting so that you can make a professional impression from the moment that you arrive. It is important to appear confident while being careful not to allow your self-assurance to come across as arrogance.

Take it all in your stride

It is perfectly common for an interview to consist of activities other than just the standard question-and-answer session. For example, you may be required to sit an aptitude test or take part in group activities, and the interview itself could be with one person or in front of a panel of interviewers. As long as you come to the interview expecting the unexpected, you should be able to perform to the best of your abilities.

Typical interview questions

Although it is usually impossible to know exactly what questions will be asked, there are some common questions which you can expect to hear in some form or another. It is advantageous to have considered how you would answer the following standard questions:

• What are your reasons for applying for this position?
• Why do you want to work for this company in particular?
• What do you have to offer that sets you apart from the other applicants?
• Describe what particular job experiences you have that you have enjoyed or disliked?
• What are the reasons for leaving previous positions?

Further useful information is available in The CV Centre article on Tough Interview Questions.

Appearance

What you wear and how you present yourself can be just as important as what you say during the interview. The first impression the interviewer will get of you is very important so you should dress to impress. Make sure that you clean your shoes and that your chosen outfit is in perfect condition.

On the day

Remember to bring with you anything that you have been asked to provide, such as certificates and testimonials, and also a pen and paper so that you can note down any important information that you are given. Arrive on time, if not a little earlier than expected, and be professional and courteous to all members of staff that you meet.

Personal safety

It is important to consider your own personal safety when attending an interview so be sure that someone, either friend or family, knows where you are going and at what time. Also make sure that the interview is being conducted at suitable premises.

Top tips

You want to make a good impression at all times during the interview process so here is some advice on what you should and shouldn’t do:

• Shake hands firmly with the interviewer, smile at them and maintain eye contact when responding to questions (without staring of course!)
• Avoid smoking even if the interviewer says that you can
• Elaborate as much as you can when asked questions that could simply be answered with a “yes” or “no” and make sure that all responses you give are completely honest
• Make sure that you always ask the interviewer questions when given the opportunity to do so, preferably ones that highlight your enthusiasm and interest in the position and the company: suitable questions include ones relating to training opportunities and the people you will be working with, and obviously you will want to know about salary and holiday entitlements but save these until the end
• Ascertain when you can expect to hear from them and thank them for their time

What happens next

You can realistically expect to hear some news within a week of the interview taking place unless you have been told otherwise. It is perfectly acceptable to telephone the company and make polite enquiries after a reasonable amount of time has passed.

If you have not been successful, it is important to treat the interview as a learning experience and to think about the possible reasons why you were not selected. However, try not to be too disheartened – it may simply be that another candidate was better qualified or had more experience than you. As long as you are confident that you tried your best, you have nothing to feel ashamed of.