Moving forward - Interviews
Interview techniques
If your CV and application is appropriate, you’ll get an interview. An interview gives a potential employer the chance to meet you and see if you will fit in with the company/ organisation and be a good employee for them.
THE JOB INTERVIEW
Your potential employer asks you questions about your career, personality and life and you answer honestly, whilst trying to impress them.
Job interviews can be really stressful, the secret is to prepare well for them; this will reduce your nerves when going in. Many recruitment agencies will give you a mock interview if you sign up with them.
Just follow these 5 easy steps to stand the best chance of getting a job.
- What type of interview is it?
You will most likely come across two main types of interviews, they should tell you what to expect:
One-to-one interview – most common. You are interviewed by just one person (usually the manager) and it’s a simple question and answer session.
Panel interview – This is where you’re interviewed by more than one person at a time – expect two or more interviewers to be in the room with you.
- What should I wear?
How you look is really important. It is the first personal impression your future employer has of you. You don’t necessarily have to wear a suit, depending on what job you’re going for, but you should follow a few simple dress code rules.
Websites such as www.totaljobs.com will be good at giving you advice as to how to dress for a variety of situations.
- Watch how you sit
It may sound weird, but body language can play a part in your job interview. For example, if you sit slouched in your chair with your arms crossed you may come across as not interested.
- Ask your own questions
At the end of almost every interview, the interviewer will say to you, ‘Do you have any questions for me?’
Go into the interview with a few questions of your own prepared, so you come across as keen and interested. Make sure these prepared questions do not repeat what has been already explained to you.
- Practice interview questions in advance
You need to practice interview questions; this is where many people fail. By just spending a little bit of time looking at common interview questions and answers you can really improve your chances of getting the job.
Many recruitment agencies will give you a mock interview.