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Interview Preparation

After coming through the hurdles of the selection process, you will eventually arrive at an interview. This is a major obstacle for many job applicants. Although you may have the qualifications, experience and a proven track record, you may loose out to a candidate who "interviews better".

Interviewing Better

So what does "interviewing better" actually mean? It reduces down to the candidate being well prepared and confident. A candidate who can answer questions in a way which is acceptable (but not necessarily right) to the interviewer; someone who knows something about their potential employers business and the post they hope to fill. These are really the basic components of any candidate who "interviews well". There are undoubtedly other aspects employers may look for in relation to specific posts - having their own ideas, articulate, thinking on their feet, aspects which will be related to the job and to the company's preference in employees.

The interviewer will set out to ascertain that the candidate has these personal qualities, skills and abilities the company requires.

Preparation and Confidence

These two essential ingredients are interlinked. Good preparation skills and confidence.

Preparing Yourself

The worst nightmare for an interviewee is rushing around at the last minute, arriving late hot and bothered for an interview. This shakes the confidence. Your mind is not on the interview, and your personal presentation will have suffered.

If you don't look good and feel good you'll interview badly.

So get the practicalities sorted first! Plan and be organised.

Interview Checklist

• Be sure you know the time, date and location of the interview and name of interviewee where appropriate.
• Check out how you will get to the location and when you need to set off to be there in good time - do, a dummy run if necessary. Plan to get there no earlier than half an hour before the interview, anticipate delays. To help with planning your route visit Interview Planner
• Have what you are going to wear ready in advance - everything down to your underwear.
• Do not go to the interview laden down with baggage - psychological as well as physical. Take the bare minimum of belongings necessary. Concentrate on the interview at the interview - nothing else.
• Take your interview letter.

If you are well organised and have planned for the day your confidence will increase.

Preparing to Meet the Employer

The interview is a chance for you and the employer to get to know one another. It is NOT the time to get to know about the post or the employer's business.

Do gather information about your employer before you are interviewed - what do they do, what are their current projects, what other interests do they have? Ask staff - many companies will offer you the chance to talk about the vacancy with someone, use the opportunity to find out more about the company.

Bigger companies will have PR departments, smaller ones will provide you with some information - libraries can provide information on local businesses and keep directories of national business. Use the Internet - many companies have a presence here now.

Don't Forget You

Remember the employer is interested in you as a person, your experiences and your opinions (in most cases). Do take the time to sit down and think about you, who you are and what you have achieved. It can be highly embarrassing to know more about the employer than yourself.

Sit down with your CV and make notes about your work record, what you've achieved. Look at yourself as a person in employment - how do you see yourself, what have you done, what ambitions do you have? Make notes and prepare and rehearse sound bites about yourself. Remember that one of the most common interview questions is "Tell me about yourself"; prepare a sound bite for this in particular, but not a life history. Usually interviewers want to know about personal qualities not achievements - though examples can be included to support your statement.

Try to concentrate on issues, which are both important to you and combine as apparent interest in the company, leave issues like terms and conditions until the very last, even though they may feel most important to you. Write down questions prior to the interview and take them with you.

Presentation

Wear what is appropriate for the post and the company. It may vary from smart, formal wear in some instances to very formal dress in another. Try and get an insight into what the company would expect from employees or through observation. What would be appropriate for a building company is very different for a public relations agency. Try to emulate the people who work for the company in terms of dress style.

Be well groomed and clean. Try to look calm and confident; simple things like deodorant can boost your confidence.

Answering Questions and Body Language

Once you are ushered into the interview room there will usually be a short exchange of pleasantries and ice breaking. Don't be fooled by this time - it is really designed to put you at ease in most circumstances, but these initial moments are most formative - don't go over the top being exceptionally friendly or alternatively going rigid with fear feeling that your handshake was too limp!!

A pleasant natural smile, a firm handshake and a brief exchange of words in a natural manner are sufficient.

Body Language

Some simple, but frequently broken rules!

• Sit comfortably with both feet on the floor, lean slightly towards the interviewer.
• Don't play with your hair or your hands. Keep them out of pockets!
• Try not to create defensive barriers between you and them, like a brief case on your knees, folded arms, or crossed legs……… even if you feel you need to. It is natural, but they will not physically attack.
• Maintain natural eye contact with the interviewer - that is maintain eye contact, but don't stare like a snake.
• If there is more than one interviewer, look at who's talking.
• When you're talking shift your glance from one to the other.
• Don't over use your hands, if you are a natural gesticulator.
• Don't squirm and fidget.
• Do nod and Mmm, to show you are listening to them.
• Above all, try to be you, try to be natural, unless you're naturally offensive!!

Obeying these rules will allow the interviewers to concentrate on you, and not what you're doing in the interview. Body language conveys all sorts of messages, and the right body language will convey the message of a well-balanced and confident individual … … even if you are not!!

For more in depth information please register with us which will open up further resource on interview techniques and other value added services which include: -

• In depth interview preparation information
• Resignation area
• Jobs by e-mail - All the latest jobs to your desktop
• CV storage area
• CV templates
  and more………

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All the best! Imagine Recruitment.

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