| In the world of job hunting, there is nothing more | | | | tip of our tongues, we will look unprofessional. In fact, |
| daunting than the job interview. Everyone gets nervous | | | | taking the time to think looks far more professional |
| when faced with being put on the spot. With all the | | | | than shooting with the first thing that comes to mind. |
| build up to an interview, many people go in feeling like | | | | After all, in most cases, the ability to think will be a |
| one misplaced word will be enough to lose them the | | | | requirement of the job. |
| opportunity. It doesn’t need to be so hard. | | | | Treat the interview as a conversation |
| Here are seven things you can do to improve the | | | | It will be easier all around if you can play your part in |
| impression you give in an interview situation. These | | | | making the interview a conversation rather than an |
| apply equally to agency interviews and interviews with | | | | interrogation. So think about it as that - a conversation |
| the potential employer. | | | | - before you go into the interview room. Remember |
| Be prepared, but not over-prepared | | | | that an interview should be about you testing the |
| There is often a lot of emphasis placed on the need | | | | suitability of the job to you as much as it is them |
| for interview preparation: research the company, | | | | testing the suitability of you to the job. It’s a |
| research the people, research the favourite colour of | | | | two-way street. |
| the boss. In truth, while some research is a good idea, | | | | Be yourself |
| going to excess can be detrimental. The interviewer is | | | | We sometimes get so caught up trying to present |
| more interested in you than in what you know about | | | | ourselves as what we think the interviewer is looking |
| the organisation, so consider spending more research | | | | for that we forget to be ourselves. Don’t fool |
| time reminding yourself of your own background, and | | | | yourself: interviewers can see through this and they will |
| particularly achievements you may have forgotten | | | | quickly discount you if they don’t feel they are |
| about. | | | | getting to see the real you. In the end, if you can’t |
| Get the simple stuff right | | | | get the job by being yourself, why would you want the |
| There is no point doing any research if you don’t | | | | job in the first place? |
| do the simple stuff right. Present yourself smartly - | | | | Forget the opposition |
| with clean shoes. (I’m amazed how often the | | | | Another trap is worrying too much about the other |
| shoes are overlooked.) Be on time. Introduce yourself | | | | applicants, especially towards the end of the interview |
| with a confident handshake and look the interviewer in | | | | process when you know you’re down to the last |
| the eyes. And smile! A smile can really set the | | | | two or three. This can be hard to avoid but it is |
| interview off on the right track. | | | | essential. If there is a better candidate than you, there |
| Listen to the questions | | | | is nothing you can do about it. On the other hand, if you |
| This is one area where over-preparation can be a | | | | are the best candidate, the only way you’ll miss out |
| trap. It is easy start waffling on in answer to a question | | | | is if you don’t make that clear. So focus on your |
| you anticipated rather than the question that was | | | | own achievements: not the achievements you imagine |
| actually asked. This has the same effect on the | | | | others might have. |
| interviewer as sending a form letter: it leaves them | | | | Interviewers see a lot of people every day. They are |
| wondering if you really want this particular job or would | | | | often disappointed by well-qualified people who forget |
| be happy with anything. | | | | some of these basics in a vain attempt to present as |
| Pause. Think before you answer | | | | the perfectly prepared candidate. This makes these |
| There is nothing wrong with taking your time to | | | | people very hard to consider seriously. Don’t make |
| answer. Again, in preparation, we can convince | | | | the same mistake yourself. |
| ourselves that unless we have the right answer on the | | | | |