‘Fail to prepare, prepare to fail’, as they say. It is important that we learn from our bad experiences instead of dwelling on them and beating ourselves up about it. Knowing a few basic principles can really help you come out of the interview room with smiles all around.
Start as you mean to go on
The first few minutes of an interview are vital. Getting off on the wrong foot will affect both your confidence and your prospective employer’s impression of you. There is only one chance to make a first impression so it helps to ensure it is a positive one.
- Ensure a firm hand shake, with good eye contact and a warm smile!
- Be positive at all times. Avoid phrases like: ‘the weather was awful’ and go for an optimistic alternative ‘I’ve heard the weather is going to clear towards the end of this week’.
Be prepared for different styles of interviewers
We are all different but people tend to like people who are like themselves! If possible, try to slightly tailor your style to theirs while still being yourself and letting your personality shine through.
Know your CV inside out
It is common that we practice for the ‘Tell me about yourself’ question by reading through our CV in chronological order. When asked to speak at random about different roles throughout our CV we find ourselves stumped. To overcome this problem, study each role in detail and practice speaking about them individually rather than in a chronological order.
Prepare Answers
Plan answers for 15 - 25 common interview questions. While those specific questions may not come up in the interview, you can be sure that very similar ones will, letting you tailor the response instantly. Remember to give evidence to support each of your answers.
Pave the way
Think about what you would like the interviewer to ask you next. Attempt to influence this by peppering your answers with pieces of information that will prompt the interviewer to ask about those specific things. For example, if you mention a relevant course that you have completed, the interviewer is then likely to ask you about it, but be subtle!
Think twice before saying nothing!
If you are asked a question that you simply do not know the answer to, be honest about it and explain that if you were to answer it you would be taking a punt on it. The interviewer will probably appreciate your honesty and may even ask you to have a go at answering it anyway.
Don’t ask questions for the sake of it
Normally near the end of the interview you will be asked by the interviewers if you have any questions for them. This is a good opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of the job, company or industry. For instance, refer to an article about the industry and ask them their opinion on it and how they think it will affect their business rather than asking generalized questions suited for all.
If all of the questions that you have prepared have been answered throughout the course of the interview, be honest about it and tell them so; they will appreciate your honesty. You could then ask them if they have any more questions for you. This demonstrates your confidence and also gives the interviewer an opportunity to find out more about you.
Know your weaknesses
Prepare both ‘personal’ and ‘professional’ weaknesses and be sure that whatever weaknesses you give, you demonstrate a self-awareness of that weakness and how you work towards overcoming it.
Contrary to everything mentioned above, by giving yourself a break from preparation on the eve of the interview and doing something that completely takes your mind away from it will actually help you to sleep better and in turn will enhance your interview performance.
Monster.co.uk in association with TailorMyCV.ie
http://career-advice.monster.co.uk/job-interview/job-interview-behaviour...