Interviews

You can never be too good at interviews, so read on to see if there are any new tips for you to learn.

Handling interviews

Firstly, let’s start off with the golden rules:

• Always research about the company and the role on offer. Read their website, read their annual report, know the services and products they provide. Read up on the job role and have a good idea what sort of tasks you may be doing. Not knowing this will almost certainly mean you don’t get the job.
  
  
• Know what you wrote on your application form and CV as some of the questions you get asked are certain to come from it. You also don’t want have that uncomfortable moment where you say “where did I claim I have done that?”
  
  
• Know how to get to the interview location and if it’s in an area that is unfamiliar to you do a dummy run. Being late isn’t exactly a good impression. Make allowances for potential hold ups – it’s better to have some time to have a cup of tea and reread your application before you go in than rushing through the door, out of breath, at the last minute
  
  
• Be courteous to everyone you meet in the company. It’s possible that the interviewers may ask various people that you meet, even for the shortest period, what they thought of you. Similarly if you are rude to a member of staff at the vending machine, they are likely to tell the recruiter.
  
  
• The person who will be interviewing you will probably meet you at the reception desk. You will need to master small talk during the walk to the interview room as they will already be forming an impression of you. If they ask you how your journey was, just reply “fine” and avoid discussing in-depth your route or any complications you encountered on the way. Even better, try to get them to talk by asking them how long they’ve worked there, or commenting on something you’ve noticed on the wall, such as a photograph or certificate, this will show that you are taking an interest in the environment.
  
  
• Have a good sense of personal hygiene, but avoid overpowering perfume and aftershave otherwise that is likely to be all they remember about you. Dress appropriately for the interview
  
  
• Make sure your handshake is firm but not to the extent that it will break people’s hands.
  
  
• Watch your body language. Don’t slouch or cross your arms, sit up right and keep your shoulders back; expressing an alert and positive posture. Maintain good eye contact - if you are being interviewed by more than one person, look at the person whose question you are answering with the odd glance at the other people in the room.

Telephone interviews
Interview questions
Questions from your CV