interview tips
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Interview etiquette
Remember to turn off you mobile telephone. One of the main things that annoy an interviewer is people receiving calls or texts while being interviewed.
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Be prompt
Arrive at least 10 minutes before your interview. Remember to expect something unexpected happening. If you do arrive early the extra minutes will give you time to fill out any forms or applications that might be required.
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Firm Handshake
Make a positive and professional first impression by being assertive and giving a firm handshake to each interviewer and addressing each interviewer by name as he or she is introduced.
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Communication
Reinforce your professionalism and your ability to communicate effectively by speaking clearly and avoiding "uhs", "you knows", and slang.
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Last employer
No matter what kind of experience you have with your last employer always be professional and avoid condemning them! A prospective employer will not take kindly to a rant about how bad they were.
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Questions
If you carry out your fact find about the company properly you should be able to write yourself a list of sincere questions about the company and the role. The number one turn off for an interviewer is a lack of questions from a candidate
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Bluffing
If you don't know the answer to a question or you don't know what the interviewer is talking about be honest - you would really look silly if you were nodding away bluffing and then they ask you a question on the subject that you know nothing about.
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Check your CV for errors
Your CV will be completely ignored if it is written poorly. Proofreading it for spelling, grammar, and tone only takes a short while but can mean the difference between gaining an interview or been ignored.
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Keep your CV simple
Construct an effective CV by organising your information in a logical fashion and keep descriptions clear and to the point. Try to keep your CV to 2 or 3 pages or you will loose their attention.
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Be professional
When you apply for jobs it is obvious that at some point an employer will try to contact you by telephone. They do not want to sit for 2 minutes listening to your favourite music or hear you attempting to be amusing - change your answer message to a short but professional one before you start to attract interest.
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Fact find
The employer wants to know that you want to work specifically for them so you need to do your homework and slip the facts into your interview answers. Find out key people in the organization, major products or services, size in terms of sales and employees, Locations of offices and look at their major competitors.
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Sell yourself
Each question gives you an opportunity to illustrate your favourable characteristics. When responding, focus on subjects related to the job. For example, if asked to describe yourself, talk about your professional characteristics and background, not your personal life.
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Be positive
Whatever the question, be ready to accentuate the positive. The interviewer might ask for a weakness or failure; choose one that does not affect your ability to do the job, or describe a shortcoming you are working to overcome focusing on how you are doing so.
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Dress sense
An interview is not a fashion show. Dress smart professional and avoid last-minute clothing disasters by trying on your suit a few days before the interview and plan for the unexpected: if you will wear a skirt, buy an extra pair of stockings; if you have shoes that tie, get more shoelaces.
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Plan your route
If the location of the interview is not familiar to you don't leave it to the last minute to plan your route. The best way to calm your nerves is to make a test run to the interview a few days before thus eliminating any need for maps and stress.
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Don't go empty handed
At the interview you will need a pen (that works!) and paper to record the interviewers name and the details of the job, most interviewers will be happy if you ask to take notes. Consider carrying a briefcase to the interview. In addition to serving a function it gives you a professional look.
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Calm your nerves
To reduce nervousness, interviewers recommend getting a good night's sleep and maintaining your usual morning routine-if you never eat breakfast, for example, don't eat a hearty morning meal on interview day. They also recommend calling to mind some of your happiest memories or proudest moments before arriving for the interview.
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Politeness
Standard politeness is important in an interview because the interviewer knows very little about you. To be safe, never use the interviewer's first name unless you are invited to do so, and don't sit down until the interviewer does.
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What next
Before leaving the interview, make sure you understand the next step in the hiring process. Find out whether there will be another round of interviews, whether you should provide additional information, and when a hiring decision will be made.
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CV musts
A half hearted incomplete CV will not impress anyone. You must include the title of each position, the company details, what the company do, the role responsibilities that you had and importantly the dates you worked there.
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Eye Contact
Unequalled in importance! If you look away while listening, it shows lack of interest and a short attention span. If you fail to maintain eye contact while speaking, at a minimum it shows lack of confidence in what you are saying and at worst may send the subtle message that you are lying.
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Facial Expressions
Beware of looking sullen, confused, or even mildly hysterical during the entire course of the interview! Look at yourself as others would. Then modify your facial expressions - add a simple feature that nearly every interviewee forgets to include - a smile!
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Posture
Posture sends out a signal of your confidence and power potential. Stand tall, walk tall, and most of all, sit tall. Make sure you sit at the front edge of the chair, leaning slightly forward and don't slouch.
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Gestures
Gestures should be very limited during the interview. Don't use artificial gestures to try to heighten the importance of the issue at hand (pardon the pun). It will merely come off as theatrical.
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Openness and Warmth
Open-lipped smiling, open hands with palms visible, unbuttoning coat upon being seated.
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Confidence
Leaning forward in chair, chin up, putting tips of fingers of one hand against the tips of fingers of other hand in a praying position, hands joined behind back when standing.
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Don't figit
At all costs avoid fidgeting, hands touching the face or covering part of the face, pulling at skin or ear, wringing hands, biting on pens or other objects, twiddling thumbs. It doesn't look good.
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Honesty
If you use phrases such as, "To be honest with you," "Just between you and me," "Well, I'll be completely honest about this,"etc stop now. A person who uses such a saying is implying that they are usually not being honest
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Examples
Telling people what you have done is nowhere as impressive as showing people what you have done - take examples of your work or success to back up your interview
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Money question
If the "money question" is asked early in the interview, the best response is to not be specific you will either be too low or too high, costing yourself thousands of pounds or possibly keeping yourself from getting the job position. The best response is: "I am really interested in the position and would be happy to consider what you offer."
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Answer length
In an effort to try and dig themselves out of trouble, most job interviewees give long answers to hard questions and they give short answers to easy questions. Mistake! That increases the proportion of the interview spent on weak points.
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Probe the interviewer
Great questions to ask early in a job interview: "What are you most hoping to find in the person you hire?" and "What would be my first priorities on the job?" The earlier you can ask these questions, the sooner you can start tailoring your answers to the employer's priorities.
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Prompting objections
At the end of the interview, ask, "Based on what we've talked about today, I feel good about the position. Do you have any concerns about my ability to do the job?" Often, that gives you a chance to counter any objections.
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Listen to the interviewer
By focusing on what is being said, you can gather valuable information that will help you formulate better, more intelligent answers and questions of your own. Listen until the speaker is finished - do not interrupt.
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Your image
In the first five to thirty seconds the interviewer will make their mind up about your Socioeconomic Status, Educational Level and your Desirability. Most people like to be associated with well-dressed individuals with intelligence who can achieve.
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Image preparation
Describe to yourself in words the way you want to be. How would you look and sound to a neutral observer? e.g. I see myself in an interview room sitting by a desk. I look relaxed, and I am smiling, alert and energetic. I am paying close attention to the other people in the room. My posture is upright and I am making conversation easily and effortlessly. I exude confidence.
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Mentally rehearse
In your imagination visualize yourself at the interview comfortable and at ease meeting people, feeling relaxed and confident. Pretend that you are observing yourself from the other side of the room.
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Prepare for pressure
Imagine talking to an interviewer who is putting you under pressure! See yourself politely dealing with everything thrown at you. What will you do if you are left sitting there facing a wall of silence? See yourself acting decisively and without fear to move onto the next opportunity to create rapport.
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Dress etiquette
Be conservative and err on the side of caution. If the company does not have a dress code, remember that its better to overdress than underdress.