Interview Tips

Overview

Having spent time, money and effort in preparing your CV for clients, when you obtain an interview, it is essential you follow some basic guidelines to give yourself the best opportunity of securing a position:-

Planning

• Ensure you know the interview times, dates, location and who it is with.
• Try to establish the format, is it a one2one or with others or a group presentation, if so what is the presentation format, content requirement and time allowed.
• Try to establish the interview schedules, is it a one two or three stage process?
• Establish whether you need to take anything along with you, i.e. references, driving license, testimonials etc.

Preparation

• Establish as much as you can about your prospective company and it's competitors i.e. history, share price, turnover, employees etc.
• Make sure you understand the role/title of the person(s) who are going to interview you! Are they the decision maker?
• Draw up a list of questions about the role, the company, the market place, it's competitors, etc. If a prospective employer asks if you have any questions, your response may influence his decision making process.

Arrival

• Be on time (allow time for delays i.e. traffic)
• Be smart, crisp, clean, wear a professional suit, shirt/blouse etc, highly polished shoes. The key is to visually paint a picture , for your prospective employer of how you would look in the job
• Make sure you have all of your documents/copies and that they look professional.
• Don't wear items of clothing/jewellery that are obtrusive, this is an interview not a fashion show!

The process

• Shake hands
• Smile
• Offer thanks
• Wait to be seated
• Sit comfortably, relax, do not fidget and put anything you have with you on your lap or the floor.
• Always keep as much eye contact as possible, watch for buying signals and capitalise on them.
• Be prepared to give examples if asked of achievements or situations.
  Don't avoid questions.
• Give praise to an interviewer, i.e. 'that's a good question'
• Don't be afraid to ask questions during the interview, when you are not talking you have time to think
• Listen - listen - listen!
• Relate your positive attributes that match the job.

The Ending

• Ask how you have done.
• What is the next stage.
• Give thanks for the opportunity.
• Get a definite Yes or No response date.
• Smile shake hands and leave.

Summary

• Be prepared
• Be smart
• Be on Time
• Ask questions
• Answer questions
• Be concise, accurate and give examples.
• Smile
• Relax
• Give thanks

The worst thing that can happen is you don't get the job!

And finally, please give employer respect, if the interview shows it is not the job for you - say so.