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Interview Tips

Very often students use a template to write a CV. This is a useful starting point, but many other factors must be considered if you want your CV to attract a prospective employer's attention.

Your CV and interview may give a different impression to a prospective employer, which is why it is essential to give proper attention to both, and to ensure that your CV is a true reflection of who you are.

Remember to be yourself, and that the interviewer is only human. In fact, they might be nervous as well!

Good luck!

• General Etiquette
• Interview Content
• Nervousness

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General Etiquette

•  Ensure that you are presentable (appropriate clothing, hair, makeup, nail polish; good hygiene), and that your language is appropriate (professional, polite, appropriate jargon).

•  Try to arrive early. This will ensure that you have time to make yourself presentable (splash water on face if it is a hot day, fix makeup and hair). This also allows time for emergencies, prevents you from appearing flustered, and shows the employer that you are punctual. More importantly, if you are hot and bothered, or rushing and panicking, you won't be performing at your best.

•  Ask the interviewer if there is anything you should bring to the interview when arranging an interview time. Ensure that you do bring the requested items e.g. documents, certified documents, application fees, work samples and portfolios, pen and paper, banking details.

•  I highly recommend bringing a pen and paper and writing down any notes that you consider relevant. This might be payment structures, job profiles, additional meeting times, relevant information about the company, or any other relevant information you will want to recall at a later date. Remember, you are also interviewing the company to see if this is a job you actually want. Bringing a pen and paper also shows that you are a professional, and that you would bring such materials with you to a client without being told that you need to. It is also a good idea to have your banking details with you, whether or not they are requested.

•  Turn off your phone. If you forget, apologise to the interviewer and turn it off. Do not take the call unless THEY indicate that they don't mind. Do not request to take the call. If you are expecting an urgent phone call, let the interviewer know at the start of the interview, and ask their permission. Sometimes an interviewer will pay the same courtesy to you, but never get angry if they do take a call during your interview, and don't duplicate their actions.

•  If the interview is being held in an informal setting, such as a coffee shop, never assume that the interviewer is paying the bill. Order what you can afford, and pay for your share (include a tip). If you are short on cash, borrow the money, or order water. If you want to make a good impression, offer to pick up the bill for both you and the interviewer. They probably won't accept, but make sure you can afford it if they do. This is especially important when interviewing for a position where you might have to entertain clients, such as a sales position. It shows that you are willing to go the extra mile, even though most companies will probably have entertainment expenses.

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Interview Content

•  The interviewer will most likely guide the interview, but it important to think about what you want to know from the interview. You might want to know your expected working hours, your remuneration (what they are paying you), more detail about what is expected of you, information about the company structure, etc. Research the company before the interview so that you can discuss these issues, rather than just ask questions, and so that you have a fair idea of what you can expect. Have an idea of the remuneration you expect - research similar positions in other companies, keep your skills and experience in mind, and be realistic!

•  Be honest and upfront about everything. Do not create unrealistic expectations. For example, if you are not applying for a full time position and will only be available for a few months, tell the interviewer. Or if you are studying, let the interviewer know that you might have less time during exam periods, but that you will give them these time periods in advance. They often appreciate this, and if you have good skills and they want you anyway, it should not jeopardise your getting the position. This is particularly relevant to the retail industry, part time work, and agencies. If you are not upfront, or even go as far as hiding the truth, the employer will think less of you when problems arise, and are less likely to give you a good reference. Remember, though - only reveal things that are relevant to your performance. It is unnecessary to mention that you have chronic depression if this has been under control for a long time. Also, do not get too personal. If your reasons are personal, it is sufficient to mention that there is currently a personal issue that is being dealt with. Your interviewer should not be made to feel like a counsellor.

•  If you are really excited about the job, let the interviewer know. Tell them why you are excited.

•  Show the interviewer that you are an asset to the company. You could just give them an idea of the services you can provide that set you apart from all other interviewers, but often you can go the extra mile. For example, if it is an IT hardware position, you could ask them if they have any current problems that you could have a look at. Or, you could give them a demonstration of some skill, or describe a scenario. Try to show them your worth before you have even started working for them. Be creative. (The additional portfolio's/links you provide in your job application are also relevant here - all of these things show the interviewer that you have given thought to the job at hand.)

•  If there is a controversial area of your CV that you have decided to not include, you can gauge the interviewer's personality and your rapport with him/her and decide whether or not to divulge this information during the interview. Sometimes, you can be surprised at the response, so never hide the information indiscriminately, e.g. a strong interest in astrology. In fact, some companies might want people who are able to deal with controversial or sensitive clients, and such controversial interests might actually help you to get the job!

•  If you feel comfortable, you might want to request feedback from the interviewer on your CV, and interview skills. This might be a delicate option, as you might feel that this indicates to the interviewer that you are asking in order to apply elsewhere. Make it clear that it is in the interests of self improvement. If you ask, though, be prepared for criticism (hopefully it is constructive criticism).

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Nervousness

Here are a few hints to deal with any pre-interview nerves.

•  Make sure that you have eaten and had sufficient to drink. Keep a small bottle of water with you in case your mouth goes dry.

•  If you tend to suffer from anxiety, and it consistently prevents you from performing appropriately and adequately during an interview, speak to your chemist or doctor about it. Be very responsible if you require medication for anxiety, and try to keep it natural.

•  Techniques for reducing anxiety do include exercising, brief meditation, eating healthily, and being prepared. While it may sound very extreme, humming 'ohm' actually does have a chemical effect on your body and will help to reduce anxiety.

•  Make sure you are not running late. This will add more stress to the process.

•  If you are early, often you sit in a waiting room and your anxiety intensifies. Don't let this prevent you from being early. Try to read a magazine, or write a short list of what you want to get out of the interview, or read over your notes on the company you are interviewing with. Try not to tap your feet or appear nervous. Perhaps you can even chat to the receptionist. This might even be an advantage - you might find out important information about the company, and the interviewer will see that you can easily build a rapport with new people and with their staff.

•  Ask yourself: what is the worst that can happen? The worst is that you will not get the job, and will be in the same position as before you applied for the interview. You have been there and experienced it, and it is probably not worth the anxiety. The absolute worst is embarrassing yourself in some way, but if you do, always remember to turn it into a joke. We all make mistakes and most people are aware of this. It is how you deal with a mistake that determines who you are.

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