Interview Tips by The
CV Centre, the UK's leading CV consultancy.
Most people are nervous about attending job interviews – but nerves
can be a useful tool for sharpening up your performance. However, if your
nerves take over to the extent that they interfere with your ability to
come across well at interview, it’s clear that you need to calm down.
The key to preventing pre-interview jitters is preparation.
Organise Yourself
In most cases, you will be notified that you have got through to the
interview stage a few days in advance. You can use this time to prepare
– and the better prepared you are, the fewer your reasons to be nervous.
Try to find out as much as you can about the employer. Reference libraries,
your local careers centre and the Internet (if you have access) are all
good sources of information. You should also read up on the type of work
you are applying for. Go over the job description thoroughly and make
a note of any questions you would like to ask at the interview.
Travel Arrangements
It is vital that you find out:
· Where the employer is based – it seems obvious but if you
need to get the train, find out where the nearest railway station is
· When the interview is to be held – calculate how long it
will take you to get there and make sure that you leave in plenty of time
(particularly if you are relying on public transport)
· Where the interview is taking place – if the employer occupies
a number of rooms in separate buildings, it is easy to end up in the wrong
place
· What the name of your contact is
· Who will be interviewing you
Confidence
Confident people inspire confidence in others – if you appear confident
that you are able to do the job, the employer is likely to believe that
you can. Naturally it is important not to go to the other extreme and
appear over confident, arrogant or pushy.
Expect the Unexpected
Bear in mind that interviews vary enormously. You may be asked to sit
an aptitude test or prove that you have the necessary skills for the job
– a typing test for example. The interview itself may be a quick,
informal chat across a crowded office or it could involve a panel of interviewers
all firing questions at you. There may even be group activities with other
candidates designed to see how you perform in a team situation, or you
may be called back for further interviews on another day. Often, candidates
fail to perform to the best of their abilities because they were thrown
into a situation they were not expecting. The answer: expect the unexpected.
You cannot prepare for every eventuality but you can be aware that the
format of the interview may come as a surprise to you. Have faith in your
own skills and experience and allow the employer to see you at your best.
Interview Questions
Obviously, no one can know exactly what questions they will be asked
at interview but there are certain topics that will almost certainly come
up. Think through your answers to the following questions beforehand:
· Tell me about your work experience – what did you do, what
did you enjoy, what were you good at, why did you leave each job.
· Why have you applied for this job?
· Why do you want to work for this company?
· What can you, above all the other applicants, bring to this
job?
· What did you do with your time when you were out of paid employment?
The best way to prepare for interview questions is to know what they
are in advance. There are many sites that offer example interview questions,
or you can buy a book. The
CV Centre sponsor "Great Answers To Tough Interview Questions"
by Martin John Yate, generally considered to be the leading text on the
subject.
Look Good, Feel Good
Research has shown that your interviewer is likely to make up his or
her mind about you within 30 seconds of having met you. Use this. Make
sure that you have an outfit that is smart and presentable. It’s
a good idea to try the whole thing on before the day of the interview
to check that there are no drooping hems or buttons missing. It is also
worthwhile polishing your shoes – details like this can make all
the difference. And if you feel that you have made an effort and look
good, you will appear to be more confident and relaxed.
The Big Day
Make sure that you allow yourself enough time to get ready and that you
have all your exam certificates, records of achievement, testimonials
and anything else relevant to the job with you. Also remember to take
the letter inviting you to the interview and any maps that you might need.
Leave in time to arrive about 10 minutes early for the interview –
this will allow you to gather your thoughts, go to the loo, check your
appearance, etc. When you arrive, give your name to the receptionist if
there is one. Try to relax – everyone gets nervous before interviews.
The chances are that you will feel more nervous than you look and anyway,
most interviewers are trained to make allowances for the fact that you
are likely to be on edge.
Safety
The majority of job interviews are straightforward in terms of personal
safety but there are a few simple rules which should always be adhered
to:
· Always tell a friend or relative where you are going and what
time they can expect you back.
· Never agree to be interviewed in a car park or over a meal.
The interview should be held at the organisation’s premises or in
some other public or official place.
· Always arrange to have someone pick you up if the interview
is taking place outside normal office hours. Never let the interviewer
drive you home.
First Impressions
The following tips will help you make a positive impression:
· Shake hands firmly (but not to they extent that they require
first aid) with all the interviewers when you first enter the room –
and smile
· Maintain eye contact whilst answering all questions – and
remember to speak up
· Don’t smoke unless you are offered a cigarette
· Try to avoid ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ answers to questions
even if they seem appropriate – they tend to be conversation stoppers.
Make sure that you answer questions fully without chattering on unnecessarily.
· Never lie at interview or say something that you cannot substantiate,
but make sure that you present yourself in the best possible light
· When you are asked if you have any questions, use this as an
opportunity to demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm. Begin with questions
about training, other people you will be working with, and the job specification.
Save questions about pay and holidays until last.
· If you are not asked about something which you feel illustrates
an important aspect of your ability to do the job, don’t be afraid
to bring it up yourself at the end of the interview
· Make sure that you find out when you can expect to hear whether
you have been successful – it could be anything from the same day
(in which case, you may be asked to wait around for a decision) to a few
days.
· Remember to thank the interviewers for their time before you
leave.
The Wait
You should hear one way or the other within a week or so of the interview
taking place, unless they have specified otherwise. If you do not hear
within this time, telephone the organisation and enquire politely whether
a decision has been reached. If you were not successful, try to treat
the interview as a learning experience – nearly everybody gets a
few setbacks when they are hunting for a new job. Think about why you
were not selected and if there was anything that you could have done differently
to improve your chances of getting the job. Don’t be too hard on
yourself. It may simply have been that there was a better qualified or
more suitable candidate and that given your experience and skills, you
performed to the best of your abilities. Indeed, sometimes there is so
little to choose between candidates that more than anything, success or
failure at interview is down to luck. Above all else, remember: there
is a job out there with your name on it and if employers haven’t
recognised your star quality yet it’s up to you to dazzle them!
Further Help
We can offer no better recommendation than to get hold of a copy of the
book "Great Answers To Tough Interview Questions" which, despite its title,
actually covers every single aspect of the job-hunting process. It’s
the best book on the subject, is sponsored by The CV Centre, and is available
from them for just £12.50. Of course, to get to the interview stage
you do need an outstanding CV and there really is no substitute for taking
advantage of in-depth professional experience. The CV Centre is the UK's
leading CV consultancy; their CVs are carefully crafted to have the strongest
possible appeal to potential employers, rather than being just an uninspiring
typed summary of an individual's basic information. Their team of consultants
also has a broad range of previous experience within recruitment and personnel
management, which enables them to produce CVs of the highest standards.
Please Click Here
to find out how The CV Centre's professional CV writing services can help
to maximise your chances of getting the job you deserve.
