Advice Centre - Interview tips

Before the Interview

Research

• Look committed and find out as much as possible about the company
• Visit their website

Your CV

• Review your CV and make sure you have positive answers if the interviewer wants more detail on the information you have provided

Job Description

• Read the job description carefully
• Make sure you meet all the criteria detailed in the job description
• Be confident you are technically qualified to do the job

Have examples from your previous roles to demonstrate your ability to do the job

Interview Do’s

Presentation

• Look your smartest and show your most professional side during the interview. A company is more likely to hire someone who is well presented and who will therefore best represent their company

Punctuality

• Arrive on time or a little before
• Obtain clear directions for the location of your interview and plan your journey, allowing plenty of time to arrive. If you are unavoidably delayed, notify the company immediately giving your reason and your estimated time of arrival

During the interview

• Introduce yourself courteously
• Express yourself clearly
• Show tact, manners, courtesy and maturity at every opportunity
• Be confident and maintain poise. The ability to handle your nerves during the interview will come across as confidence in your ability to do the job
• Be prepared to show how your experience would benefit the company
• Ask questions concerning the company or products and the position for which you are being interviewed. An interviewer will be impressed by an eager and inquisitive mind. You will also be able to demonstrate you can contribute to the company if you show an interest in their products / services
• Take time to think and construct your answers to questions to avoid rushing into a vague and senseless reply
• Demonstrate you are sufficiently motivated to get the job done well and that you will fit in with the company’s organisational structure and the team in which you will work
• Anticipate questions you’re likely to be asked and have answers prepared in advance. Uncertainty and disorganisation show the interviewer that you are unprepared and unclear what your goals are
• Be assertive without being aggressive
• Thank the interviewer

Show willingness to start at the bottom and work up

Interview Don’ts

• Be late for the interview. Tardiness is a sign of irresponsibility or disorganisation and the employer could take it as what to expect in the future
• Arrive unprepared for the interview
• Say unfavourable things about previous employers
• Make excuses for failings
• Give vague responses to questions
• Show lack of career planning – no goals or purpose could convey the impression you’re merely shopping around or only want the job for a short time
• Show too much concern for rapid advancement
• Overemphasise money. Your interviewing goal is to sell yourself to the interviewer and to get an offer of employment. Salary discussion is secondary
• Refuse to travel / relocate. Always be open to discussion, the employer may be talking about future plans not present
• Show any reservations you may have about the company / role. You can always turn down second interviews and job offers after you have had time to appraise your concerns
• Demonstrate low moral standards
• Express strong prejudices or any personal intolerance

Leave your mobile phone on during the interview

Your questions

The interview is a 2 way process. You need to interview the company to find out if the company and the position are right for you. Prepare the questions that you want answered and ask them. If you ask open questions e.g. those beginning with “What?” “How?” “Where?” “Who?” “When?” or “Will?” it will encourage your interviewer to talk and provide you with additional information

• What will my responsibilities be?
• How has the position become vacant?
• How will you assess my performance?
• How does the role fit into the structure of the department?
• How does the department fit into the organisation as a whole?
• Who will I report to and are there persons reporting to me?
• Where does my line manager fit into the structure?
• What encouragement is given to undertake further training?
• Who are your customers?
• Where is the company going? Expansion Plans?
• Where is the specific location of the position?
• How soon will you decide the appointment?

What is the next step?