How to get the job you want – Job Interview tips

Getting invited to an interview means you’ve passed the first hurdle – your application must have made a good impression.

Now you need to prepare yourself for the interview to make the most of  the opportunity.

Plan for the interview

Get information…

Find out about the employer and the job – you could ask the employer if they have an information pack or speak to people you know who work or have worked for the company. The library may have business information in directories such as the UK Kompass Register.

Try to find out the answer to the following questions:

• what do they do/make/sell?

• who are their customers?
• what sort of organisation are they? financial information – turnover, profits etc.

• what exactly will the job involve?

• what sort of person do you think they want?

• how can you best fit your skills to match the job?

Planning for the interview

Then think about the interview itself: Who will be interviewing?

If it is your prospective manager, the interview may be more detailed. If the Personnel Manager is interviewing, it may be less direct or detailed, but could still be testing.

Will there be a test to take?

Find out before the interview and ask for an example of the things you’ll be asked to do. If you have a disability, contact the employer prior to the interview if you require any particular arrangements.

Check the day before to ensure details have been noted prior to your arrival. Plan your journey – Consider a “dummy run” before the day of the interview or check how long the journey will take. If necessary ask the Employer for directions, bus routes or details of car parking.

Plan an alternative means of getting there and be prepared for the unexpected. If you have a disability, check there are no obstacles which could cause you problems or delays.

Think about what you will wear  -  This may depend upon the sort of work you will be doing: Give yourself plenty of time to decide what to wear and get the clothes ready the day before.

You don’t have to buy a new outfit! Aim for neat, tidy, clean and uncluttered appearance. If you look good it will help you feel good!

Gather together the written information you will need at the interview CV, references, certificates, portfolio or examples of your work (if requested by the Employer).

Re -read the job advert to refresh your memory – make sure you haven’t missed something. And finally try to get a good night’s sleep!

The day of your interview

Before Leaving Give yourself plenty of time to get ready

Make sure you’ve got all relevant paperwork, e.g. CVs, invitation letter

If you are unavoidably delayed, telephone early to explain, apologise and try to get another appointment.  On arrival aim to arrive about 10 minutes before the interview time.

Give your name to the receptionist or whoever is there to greet you.  Try to relax and keep calm. Chat to the receptionist or whoever greets you, before going into the interview. This will ensure that the first thing you say isn’t croaked out because you haven’t spoken to anyone for oven an hour!

Your interview

First, accept that the symptoms of nerves – a fast heartbeat, clammy hands and butterflies in the stomach – are natural.

These are your body’s natural way of meeting a challenge and in small doses can give you the ‘oomph’ to make a good impression. You will make an impression in the first few minutes. It takes this time for people to assess someone and store this information. Once an impression has been formed, it’s seldom changed. It’s important to make first impression work for you.

Nervous tension may make your voice sound shaky. Practice deep slow breathing before you get to the interview. This will slow down your heart rate and help you avoid taking quick, shallow breaths.

Here are some handy interview tips which many find helps them:

Do:

• enter the room confidently shake hands firmly -
• and introduce yourself be polite and friendly -
• look the interviewer straight in the eye as soon as you enter the room look interested -
• ask questions as well as answering answer questions as fully as you can -
• avoid yes and no answers provide examples to prove your achievements
• tell the truth ask if you don’t understand a question
• speak clearly sell yourself -
• get your good points across
• be positive give a friendly smile (if in doubt don’t – it is better to look serious than insincere)

Don’t:

• sit until invited fidget and slouch in the chair
• swear (even mildly)
• criticise former employers
• interrupt
• draw attention to your weaknesses
• go over the top -stay calm and stick to the facts

Dealing with the unexpected

The following situations can cause problems but being prepared may help you deal with them if they arise.

The unprepared interviewer

Not all employers have had training or are experienced in interviewing people. They could be just as nervous as you are about the situation. You might find yourself being talked at and given little opportunity to sell yourself. This may mean waiting for a gap in the conversation and taking the lead during the interview (but not taking over!)

Delays and interruption

Don’t become impatient if the Employer keeps you waiting. They may have good reasons for this, so try to keep calm.

If the interviewer is interrupted – for instanced by a Telephone call – offer to leave the room.

Uncomfortable surroundings

If you find yourself being interviewed in unsuitable surroundings such as a busy public area, or noisy part of a factory – again, keep calm and try to do your best.

You could ask the Employer if you could go elsewhere but you will have to use your own judgement as to whether this request would be acceptable.

After the interview

While it is still fresh in your mind, think about how the interview went:

• what went well?
• what went badly?
• were there any questions you found difficult and why?

Use a checklist to help you identify areas for improvement.

Did you:

• arrive on time?
• dress appropriately?
• greet the interviewer politely?
• sit well and avoid fidgeting? answer the questions fully enough?
• sell myself – stress why I was the best person for the job?
• describe my previous duties well? look at the interviewer and smile occasionally?
• thank the interviewer for taking the time to see me?

Try to learn as much as you can from each interview.

Aim to become more prepared and confident in the future by looking for areas to improve and developing your stronger areas of performance. In this way you will increase your chance of getting that job.

Good luck.

If you have an upcoming interview, share with us your strategy for getting the job you want – just leave a comment

Lynn

PS Learn more about how to make yourself irresistible to employers. My next blog will be about how to be a STAR at interviews and questions that might be asked!

Click the book to join us

About Lynn Tulip
Lynn Tulip is a career management and HR professional running her own HR consultancy. Her passion is working with individuals, helping them rekindle their work passion. Read the newly published Get That Job, the art of successful job hunting.. Apart from loving food and fitness, she enjoys her ever growing family. Find her online or follow her @LynnTulip and @A4P_HR
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