| (Top Interview Tips | | | | |
| | | | - About you |
| Many graduates see going for a job interview | | | | |
| as a bit of an ordeal. | | | | - About your academic record |
| | | | |
| Does this describe you? | | | | - Your work experience |
| | | | |
| An interview can be a nerve-racking | | | | - Your career objectives, dreams and motives |
| experience. You want the job you are going | | | | |
| for and you are under pressure to perform. | | | | - Your knowledge of the company you are |
| | | | applying for |
| For the better jobs there will often be | | | | |
| first, second and in some cases third | | | | - Your personal achievements outside work |
| interviews. | | | | |
| | | | To break this down further think remember |
| First interviews will follow a brief | | | | these things: |
| telephone interview (telephone interview | | | | |
| tips) and is used as part of an employer's | | | | • When you talk about yourself remember |
| screening process. Essentially they are | | | | to be positive. Highlight your strengths and |
| 'getting rid of the bad stuff' and trying to | | | | remember they will always ask you about |
| find the good stuff (which is hopefully you). | | | | negatives. Always turn negatives into |
| Only 20% of candidates get this far. | | | | positives. For example, you could say you are |
| | | | always too hard on yourself and expect too |
| Second interview tips: Second interviews will | | | | much from yourself. This is a negative easily |
| look further examine your technical or | | | | turned into a positive. |
| specialist skills. They will give the chance | | | | |
| for the owner, director or senior partner to | | | | • When asked about you're A-levels or |
| rake a look at you. You need to be able to | | | | degree you may be asked why you chose certain |
| anticipate questions you'll be asked, have | | | | subjects. Answer clearly and concisely. |
| convincing answers and deliver replies | | | | |
| professionally. | | | | • When is comes to work experience then |
| | | | you are going to be asked questions on your |
| An employer will be looking for the following | | | | main responsibilities, lessons learnt, what |
| things from you: | | | | you found difficult, how you got on with your |
| | | | boss etc. |
| - Will this person be able to do the job? | | | | |
| | | | • Make sure you know why you want the |
| - Will you fit into the team? | | | | job you are interviewing for, what other jobs |
| | | | you have applied to and where you want to be |
| - Are you enthusiastic and motivated? | | | | in 5 to 10 years time. |
| | | | |
| The ability to the job is perhaps the most | | | | • IMPORTANT! Your knowledge of the |
| important part. This can come down to the | | | | organisation. What do you like about the |
| work experience you have. | | | | company? What key issues need addressing? Why |
| | | | will you fit in? |
| You need to guarantee your success by… | | | | |
| | | | • Make sure you have some personal |
| • Having extensive knowledge about the | | | | achievements to hand. Travelling the world, |
| organisation you are applying to. | | | | charity work, stand up comedian, |
| | | | sports… |
| • Having tip-top interview skills | | | | |
| | | | Turn the table around! It's your turn to ask |
| • Making sure you fit well into the | | | | some questions! |
| job. | | | | |
| | | | Some good ones are… |
| • Sell yourself professionally and | | | | |
| enthusiastically. | | | | • Is there anything you have heard from |
| | | | me today that worries you that I wouldn't fit |
| The Interview generally follows a simple | | | | into this job role? (You then tell them why |
| structure: | | | | they are wrong!) |
| | | | |
| 1. There is a formal start, introduction etc. | | | | • Do you like working here? Why do you |
| | | | like it so much? |
| 2. A middle - a carefully timed sequence of | | | | |
| questions | | | | • What do you think the strengths of |
| | | | the company are? |
| 3. An opportunity for you to ask questions | | | | |
| (you must ask some!) | | | | • What scope is there for personal |
| | | | growth? |
| 4. An end. | | | | |
| | | | • What kind of people would I be |
| The formal start - making the right | | | | working with if I got the job? |
| impression | | | | |
| | | | MOST IMPORTANTLY your questions should be |
| Lets get this right and keep it simple. | | | | showing the interviewer that you are very |
| | | | INTERESTED in working at their company. If |
| You need to have the right appearance and | | | | you act like you are interested and that you |
| body language. The morning of the interview | | | | have got other job offers and that you are |
| make sure you clean up good, put on your best | | | | trying to pick the best job for you (rather |
| suit, a light touch of perfume/aftershave, | | | | than them pick you), then you will seem more |
| some brightening eye drops and a good smile. | | | | sought after. |
| | | | |
| Wake up with an air of assertiveness, | | | | THE END. |
| self-confidence and ready for the challenge | | | | |
| ahead. Don't mention anything negative about | | | | Thank the interviewer, say it was nice to |
| yourself and if your interviewer brings up | | | | meet them and do the obligatory handshake |
| anything negative, turn it into a positive. | | | | goodbye. |
| | | | |
| Speak with great communication skills. See | | | | Make sure you send them a thank you email the |
| the recommended books on NLP if you want to | | | | next day re-iterating that you enjoyed |
| learn some more about this. Body language is | | | | meeting them and clarifying a couple of your |
| important with communication skills. Make | | | | positive points (subtly). |
| sure you sit in an open body position at a | | | | |
| slight angle so not to cause confrontation. | | | | If you want telephone interview tips then |
| Lean forward slightly to show interest, main | | | | please visit this site. |
| eye contact and relax! | | | | |
| | | | We provide more tips and deals on our weekly |
| Make sure your handshake is firm but not | | | | email. |
| knuckle breaking. | | | | |
| | | | This was written by Steve Burford of |
| It's Question Time! | | | | WealthyStudent.co.uk. This is a guide to top |
| | | | interview tips. See site for further tips and |
| The most common areas to be questioned upon | | | | telephone interview tips. |
| are… | | | | |