10 Interview Tips
Monday, April 6th, 20091. Research, research, research…
Pencil in enough time in advance to learn as much as you can about the job position and the company. Combing through both aspects thoroughly will help you demonstrate a real interest in the company at interview as well as help you ask good questions on the day. It’ll also give you more of an insight into whether it’s the type of company you can imagine yourself being a part of.
2. Practice, practice, practice…
You could use a knowledgeable friend to practice your interview, a friend who’s also quite observant and objective in their feedback.
Alternatively, you could possibly make use of career/employment centres and ask if one of the advisors could help you practice your technique. They might be in a better/more useful position due to the nature of what they do.
Act as the interviewer AND the interviewee in order to gain a two-thronged approach to the process.
Record it as well (audio and/or visual) if you can, and play it back to yourself.
3. Visualise the interview…
Picture every scenario as you would like it to pan out. Watch yourself walking into the room, shaking the interviewer’s hand firmly, smiling, sitting down comfortably, speaking confidently and positively, making eye contact, answering the interviewer’s questions confidently, asking your own questions, etc.
Replay the scenario in your mind again and again until it feels really familiar.
4. Know exactly where you’re going…
Depending on where the location of the interview is and whether it’s actually practical and convenient to do so, it might be an idea to take a test trip to the location beforehand. By doing that, it could basically mean that there’s one less thing to worry about on the actual day as you’ll know exactly where you’re going. You might also be able to pick up on other factors that might affect your journey, giving you a chance to add extra travel time on the day.
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5. Some early shuteye…
The last thing you need is trying to stifle a yawn in the interview. If you can, do try going to bed early over a few days before the actual interview. At the very least, make it an hour earlier than you normally would (if you can manage it). It’ll do you the world of good the next day.
If you generally tend to find it hard winding down, try taking a long hot bath before you retire, or listening to some music.
6. Nervous is good…
Nervous is natural. Nervous means you care about how well you do in the interview. If you weren’t feeling a bit anxious, then it would be quite worrying! However, you don’t have to let it get in the way of how you perform at the interview. Apart from the visual exercise mentioned, breathing in and out deeply really helps. Just focusing on your breathing for a few minutes has a calming effect. This might come in particularly handy on your way there and while you’re waiting to go in.
7. Walk with extra CVs…
Even if you’ve already sent off a CV as part of your application, do go along with a few copies just in case it’s needed in the interview. You can’t necessarily assume that the interviewer will walk with a copy (he/she might forget to bring one – they are human after all!). Three or four copies will do – a copy for you, one for the interviewer and one or two extra in case there happens to be more than one interviewer on the day.
8. It’s two-way…
Though you’re being interviewed, an interview is a two-way exchange. Don’t feel you’re expected to be passive and only talk when you’re asked a question. Ask your own questions – the research you’ve done beforehand will help you shape some good ones.
If there are questions you’ve been asked that you feel don’t quite cover relevant strengths you have, bring up those strengths – talk about them and how you feel they can help the company.
9. Don’t complain about a current/previous employer…
No matter how much you might truly feel about your previous/current job, no matter how comfortably-well your interview might be going or how down-to-earth your interviewer might appear to be, do not speak unfavourably about a previous/current employer (even if you’re thinking it). It could lead the potential employer to wonder what you might say about their own company if you ever joined and left.
10. Ask for constructive feedback…
Whether you’re successful at securing the job or not, consider sending an email or letter to the interviewer/s thanking them for the meeting and asking them for any constructive feedback they might be able to give you (your strengths at the interview and any areas that could be improved). Their feedback could prove helpful in sharpening your technique for any interviews you might decide to attend in the future (being aware of your strengths and playing up to them / transforming areas of improvement to key strengths).
