Job interview tips
You've been told to report at reception at 10am. The next hour could change your life, hopefully for the better. So how do you make sure you land that dream job?
When to arrive
An interview is one occasion that you just can't be late. Set two alarm clocks and give yourself plenty of time so that if the bus is late or you are stuck in traffic, you'll still be there on time. Although, if you have a genuine excuse and phone ahead most organisations will be accommodating.
On the other hand, that doesn't mean you should arrive 15 minutes before your appointment, either. Most interviews are given allocated time slots so you'll be asked to wait in reception, which can be fairly intimidating. If you're early, go for a walk around the block to clear your head and familiarise yourself with the area.
The interview
This may come as a surprise, but interviews are not designed to catch you out. In pure practical terms, it's a waste of time to interview someone simply to make them fail. Interviewers want to get the best out of you, but most understand that it's a nerve-wracking experience. Because of this, it's acceptable to ask them to repeat or explain questions, or to ask to have a little bit of time to think about your answer - although if you do that on every question it might get irritating! If you can't think of an answer, be honest and say so, or ask if you can come back to the question later.
A good interviewer will start by asking you a question that relaxes you and allows you to talk about yourself. Classic opening questions are "why do you want this job" or "can you talk through your CV". If you're prepared for these you'll feel a lot more relaxed when they ask them.
Don't worry if the interviewers are scribbling while you are talking, it's common practice to take notes. Equally, don't get scared if they stop and just listen. Try and ignore what they're doing, concentrate on your answers and, whatever you do, don't try and read their notes.
Answering questions
Listen to the question and think about what it is actually being assessed, but don't get too worked up about trying to second-guess how they want you to answer. One of the key signs of someone who is floundering is that they start waffling, so keep your answers to the point. If you don't think you've answered the question correctly, stop and start again. Don't feel bad about asking if you've answered the question sufficiently.
This may come as a surprise, but interviews are not designed to catch you out... it's a waste of time to interview someone simply to make them fail.
Remember, too, that your interviewers don't just want to hear that you can do the job; they want to hear that you want to do this particular job. Your enthusiasm and personality are as important as your skills and experience.
Competency-based questions
You may be told that your interview is competency-based, or relies on you giving examples or evidence. This means you'll be asked to demonstrate what you say with examples of what you've done. Some interviewers score answers against set criteria.
You can spot these questions because they often say things like "Can you tell me about a time" or "Can you give me an example of when".
Although you won't know what these questions are about specifically, it's worth preparing some examples of when you've done the following:
- Worked as a team
- Can give an example of leadership
- Worked under pressure
- Have multitasked
- Worked with clients or people outside the organisation
- Can demonstrate good communication
- Managed a project from start to finish
- Dealt with conflict
What those themes are will depend on the role (your job description will guide you here). And remember you don't have to just use examples from your paid job, any volunteering or even stuff you did at school or university could be applicable.
Confirm the details
By the end of the interview make sure you've got confirmation of the key points of the job:
- Where will you be based?
- What office or department will you be working in?
- Who will you be working with and who will be your boss?
- What will the salary be? If it isn't enough to live on, tell them so politely - they might make a better offer.
- When will you hear the results of the interview?
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