The Basics

Arrive 5-10 minutes early; being late is never acceptable, whatever the excuse. However, don’t arrive too early as this can be equally inconvenient. Make good eye contact when you meet your interviewer, smile and a give a firm handshake. Dress smartly unless advised otherwise; first impressions count so give yourself the best opportunity before you begin.

Research

Researching the company before your interview is vital. This doesn’t mean just scanning the homepage. Look around the website, visit current events or company news. Do they have a blog? Try to get an understanding of not only what they do but their values and vision and the people that currently work for them.

The Job Description

Make sure you have thoroughly read and understood the job description. Try to remember key points of ‘desirable requirements’ that the company is looking for and adapt them to your own skill set.

Your CV

Your CV is a document that YOU wrote and you should know it back to front and inside out. Make sure you know dates and time scales as well as any details you have supplied about previous roles. You need to be able to answer questions promptly and confidently.

Interview Format

Find out what format the interview will take i.e. CV based or competency based. Will there be a requirement for a presentation? Will you be required to undertake tests/assessments whilst at interview? You should be advised of all of the above but if in doubt ASK!

Body Language/Speech

Be aware of nervous traits. Consider your posture, ensure you sit still and sit up straight. Maintain good eye contact throughout.

Be measured in your speech, take time to think about what you want to say and ensure your answers are clear and concise.

Prepare Answers

Before your interview think about some questions you may be asked so you can be prepared. If it is a competency based interview go through the job description thoroughly and think about relevant scenarios in your career which demonstrate the skills required for the role. You will need to have a specific scenario for each question asked.

Some general questions to consider:

• Why did you apply for this role?
• What interests you about this job?
• How would you approach this job?
• What skills would you bring to the role?
• Why do you want to work for our company?

Some competency based questions to consider:

• Tell me about a time when you had to identify the underlying causes to a problem.
• Tell me about a time when you worked successfully as a member of a team.
• Describe a recent situation in which you convinced an individual or a group to do something.
• Describe the level of stress in your job and what you do to manage it.
• Give an example of how you provided service to a client/customer beyond their expectations. How did you identify the need? How did you respond?

Questions

At the end of your interview it is likely you will be asked if you have any questions. This is your chance to find out anything that is important to you about the role that has not already been covered. If you feel everything has been discussed then it is ok to say that your questions have been answered during the interview.

Show Interest

At the end of the interview ask when you will hear back and what the next stage of the process will be. If you are still interested in the role tell the interviewer.