I recently moved back to university for the new term and got two jobs in a few days! I had an interview for both and got them both. So this article is really just an advice piece on helpful things you should do in your job interview to make sure you get it! Interviews can be pretty daunting so hopefully these should help you!
Before the interview
– First things first – your CV. Before any interview make sure it is up to scratch, this means updating it (adding any more work experience, skills and qualifications since your last one). Read it through making sure everything is neat and tidy (and completely truthful!). I always get my mom to read through mine because I know she will be honest about any mistakes. So get your family or best friends to give it a once over to ensure that it is the best it can be.
– Your outfit. Make sure you are dressed really smartly, after all they won’t want to employ someone that looks like a slob! Make sure your clothes are neatly ironed. For an interview I would usually wear black trousers or a black skirt with tights, a smart shirt and a blazer over it. If you are dressed smartly it will give off a great first impression.
– Prepare some answers to generic questions such as – why do you think you are right for this position? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What could you bring to …? What do you think is good about the company? What would you improve? Do you prefer working in a team or by yourself? If you have already prepared an answer then when it comes to answering the question in the interview it will look natural with no nervous pauses or hesitations.
What to Take
– If they have asked you to take anything specific like ID or certain documents take those.
– Take a copy of your CV to offer them, they might have lost yours or want to refer to it. Plus it makes you look really organised and well prepared.
– A bottle of water to keep you hydrated.
– A notepad and pen in case you want to jot anything down.
In the interview
– Be punctual! Make sure you are there in plenty of time.
– Give eye contact with the person that is interviewing you.
– Stay calm! Try not to show that you are nervous. Take some deep breaths and be confident!
– Concentrate! Focus on the questions they ask you, if you don’t understand them or didn’t hear them you are allowed to ask them to repeat! It is better to do that than to waffle on about something that is not in any way related.
– Keep your answers concise and to the point. Don’t go into your life story with every question. Interact with them as appropriate.
– But on the other hand, say enough so they have something to go off. Instead of answering yes or no, elaborate.
– If they ask about your previous employers do not bad mouth them because it doesn’t give a good impression even if you didn’t like your boss.
– At the end of your interview the person interviewing you will ask ‘do you have any questions?’ to which it is vital that you answer YES then ask them around 2-3 questions. You can’t ask questions like ‘how much holiday do we get’ but ask questions about the company, anything you aren’t sure of etc.
Good Luck Guys!
Sophie Chekruga 🙂
Sophie Chekruga 