Once the euphoria of being offered an interview for a much-wanted job begins to wear off you will have to take a deep breath and start preparing for it.
For a lot of people, conquering their nerves can be the biggest obstacle that they will face in the interview process, the best advice is just to be positive and believe in your skills. You have been selected for interview, because from your application form or CV, the employer thinks that you have the skills and experience to do the job – so you’re not starting at zero, in fact you’re already half way there!
Preparation
When it come to an interview, nothing is more important than preparation. You should know the job description and person specification inside out, and should also remember what you have said on your application form or CV.
You need to research the organisation you have applied to; the interviewer(s) will expect you to display an idea of the organisation’s aims and basic structure.
Think of what you might be asked in the interview – not many questions should come as a surprise – and plan ahead accordingly. And prepare your journey as best you can; get there on time, it’s essential!
Presentation and Behaviour
When we meet someone we immediately make a decision about them – we might not be aware that we do so, but it’s inevitable. Albert Mehrabian, in his book Silent Messages, identified the following statistics for the way we communicate: 7% by words, 38% tonality of voice, 55% body language.
Make the effort to look good – it doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does have to be smart; show that you are making an effort by ensuring shoes are polished and clothes are ironed.
Use positive body language, maintain eye contact, look and sound interested, and even if you are not overly confident you are halfway to conquering your fears. Don’t slouch in your chair, sit forwards ideally with your hands still - avoid fiddling as this distracts the interviewer from what you are saying.
And remember basic etiquette, old fashioned though it may sound: sit when offered, thank people for their time, and you’ll immediately get a more positive response.
Answering (and asking) questions
If you take the time to properly prepare, it’s possible to devise answers in advance to the ‘standard’ questions that you should expect the interviewer(s) to ask you.
It is highly likely that you are going to be asked why you are interested in the job and why you applied for it, as well as what skills you have that match those required.
You will probably be asked about your future plans, why you are looking to leave your current role and maybe also about your personality. Don’t belittle or criticise your current employers or colleagues, it looks very unprofessional and will only portray you in a negative light.
If you have a totally unexpected question, consider why the interviewer is asking it, and what sort of information they are trying to elicit. Don’t give one-word responses, and aim to explain your answers – but on the other hand, do avoid rambling and make sure that you do actually answer the question that has been asked.
Always have some questions prepared to ask the interviewers, they usually give you the opportunity and it shows that you are keen to find out more. But don’t ever discuss money or benefits until the interviewers have raised the subject first, it really conveys the wrong impression.
Closing, and afterwards
At the end of the interview, thank the interviewers for their time; you’ll find that people do appreciate it. And if you are interested, then tell them so there and then. Another good idea is to thank them again afterwards for seeing you – an email is ideal for this, just a short note reinforcing that you are keen on the job.
Further reading on job interviews
Yeung, R. (2008) How to succeed at interviews, London: How to Books Ltd.
Includes sections on competency based questions, handling nerves, building confidence and asking the right questions
Quintessential careers has The Ultimate guide to job interview preparation on their website.