The Interview
Be Prepared To Sell Yourself
During an interview you are selling your experience, skills and personality. To do this you must build a rapport with the interviewer and ensure that all your relevant skills and experience are highlighted. This applies whether or not you are directly asked about them, as unfortunately you often may have to compensate for an inadequate interviewer.
Don’t forget that the purpose of the interview is not to get the job but to win the job offer which you may either accept or reject at a later stage.
Presentation
- The majority of people judge an interviewee within the first two to three minutes so clearly this is predominately based on presentation.
- If you look the part, there is an initial assumption you can do the job.
- Dress conservatively (and remove any visible body piercings!)
- Remember - you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Performance
- Build rapport as quickly as possible. The interview starts as soon as the interviewer (or his secretary) walks towards you at reception.
- If you meet anyone else during the interview, still treat this as part of the interview process as the interviewer may well ask them for feedback.
- Your interviewer may be nervous too! Help put them at ease. The more the interviewer feels comfortable with you, the better the interview will go.
- Always offer a firm handshake both at the start and the end of the interview.
- Maintain good eye contact at all times.
- Don’t slouch or fidget – if you can’t keep your hands still keep them on top of each other on your lap.
- Answer questions precisely and concisely. Never speak for more than two or three minutes without further prompt.
- Watch your own body language and also that of the interviewer – if they are asleep you have gone on too long!
- Be positive and enthusiastic throughout. Enthusiasm can sometimes compensate for lack of experience.
- Don’t answer questions with just a “yes” or “no” even if the interviewer has asked a closed question. Always back up answers with examples.
- Listen carefully – if the interviewer is displaying a blank expression it may be because you are giving an answer to a question he has not asked!
- In a panel interview, make sure you address everyone.
- Make sure you ask questions at the end both about the role and the company. You should enter the interview with sufficient questions so that even if some have been answered during the interview, you still have some spare ones to ask.
- Do not ask questions about the salary or hours – these are irrelevant unless you receive an offer and always create the wrong impression. You need to leave the impression that you are motivated by higher ideals such as “career opportunity”, “increased challenge” and “greater responsibility”.
- End the interview positively so you leave a favourable impression in the employer’s mind. Tell the interviewer you have enjoyed the interview, you liked what you have heard and that you would be interested in taking it to the next stage.
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