Whether you’ve done 5 job interviews or 500, they’re never an easy experience, but you always need to make sure that you’re making a good impression. Here are some tips to make sure that you get the job.
Research the company
Make sure you know exactly what the company does before you go to the interview. They might ask you, and it looks unprofessional if you don’t know.
Prepare some likely answers ahead of time
Have a think about what you think it’s likely your interviewer will ask you. They’re probably going to ask you something like “What makes you a suitable candidate for the role?” and if you know they’re going to ask you that, you can think about what you want to say before you go in there.
Make sure you’re there on time ie EARLY
Have your travel arrangements planned out in advance. Make sure you know exactly where you’re going, how you’re going to get there and how long it’s going to take and then also prepare that delays outside of your control may happen. Make sure you’re there at least 5-10 minutes early so that you can calm down before you go in there and use the bathroom if you need to.
Plan your outfit
Decide what you’re wearing the night before your interview. Make sure that you look smart and presentable. Even if you are applying for a job where you would dress more informally, you should dress smartly for your interview.
Body language is very important
It can even be more important than what you say! So make sure that you have a smile on your face, make eye contact with your interviewer and nod to make sure they know that you’re interested. Make sure that you have a firm (but not too firm!) handshake.
Switch off your phone
Or at least put it onto silent (with no vibrate) and definitely do not look at it while in the interview, as it could suggest that the interview and therefore the job are not your number one priority in that moment. Put it away in your bag or pocket until you leave the room.
Take your time
Thinking for a moment about your answers is better than ‘uhming’ and ‘ahing’ your way through a half thought-out reply. That pause of 2 seconds probably seems like a long time to you but no time at all for your interviewer, who will be more impressed at your well composed answer and the fact that you’ve taken the time to think about what you want to say carefully.
Don’t lie
It might seem obvious, but don’t make anything up in your interview. If you don’t know an answer, it’s probably better to admit it rather than making a fool of yourself in the interview, or worse, further down the line if you get the job. Don’t make anything up about what you can do or where you’ve worked to make yourself look better. It will all come out in the long run.
Prepare questions to ask your interviewer
Asking your interviewer relevant questions can help you to look professional and interested in the position. Make sure to ask them if you have specific questions on the role you’ll be doing, who you’ll be working for or what a typical day might be. Don’t ask them about salary, holidays or lunch.
Follow it up
Send your interviewer and email thanking them for their time and the opportunity. This is polite and helps the interviewer to remember you and your name.
If you don’t get the job
Don’t get too hung up on it – there will be other jobs, but always ask for feedback from the interviewer as to why you didn’t get the job. This will help you to improve for the next interview you have and to understand things from the employer’s perspective.
