Top 25 Interview Tips
07-02-2013
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Know the company.
Having a good understanding of how your company works and what it has to offer is highly important. If you show up with poor knowledge about the company you are applying to work with you stand no chance in proceeding further.
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Get your timing right.
Time management is essential and shows a good sign of organisation if you turn up 10 minutes before scheduled.
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Prepare your questions.
Try to plan out the obvious questions that are going to be asked. The more you practice and rehearse these questions the more relaxed you will feel.
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Talk yourself up.
You only get a short amount of time to tell the interviewer why you are perfect for the job. An interview is no time to be modest but don’t stretch the truth too far and it is more than likely you will be caught out.
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Think about your body language.
Try and be aware of how you come across. The interviewer will judge you from the first handshake so try and keep a strong frame of mind, this will reflect in your body language.
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Steer clear of clichés.
Be different, but not too different. The person interviewing you will most likely have seen many other candidates and will be aware of all the right cards to play. Try and avoid using phrases like ‘I’m comfortable working in a team as well as on my own’ or ‘I’m really hard working’.
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Be yourself.
It’s sometimes easy to forget to be yourself with everything else you have to remember for your interview. Don’t put on a personality that isn’t your own, your interviewer will see right through you and know that its fake.
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Personality counts.
You don’t know exactly what the company wants. If your personality shines through then you might be just what they are looking for.
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Smarten up.
Always dress appropriate to the job. Don’t automatically think you need to wear a suit and tie to an interview. If you are interviewing for retail, dress according to the style they stock.
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Include specifics.
Try to use figures and statistics when talking about yourself and the specific situations when you demonstrated a certain skill. Link back to those included in your CV.
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Hold the phone.
When taking part in a telephone interview it is just as important to make a first impression. Find a quiet location where you can give the interviewer your full attention this shows you are taking it seriously.
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Hold the money talk.
You could come across as over motivated if you start negotiating money at this point. If the salary is too low, the interview is not the best place to bring it up!
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Don’t be too familiar.
Don’t relax too much. The interviewer will try to put you at ease but don’t go on talking about your big nights and horrible hangovers as your social life, it will come across as unprofessional.
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Presenting yourself is crucial.
Your mannerisms play a big part in presenting yourself. Be polite to the receptionist, leave your chewing gum outside, avoid having a coffee just before you go in and a mint will not cover up the smell of cigarettes. Try and keep yourself clean and fresh. Even hold open the door for others while walking out.
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Re-read the job description.
Make sure you know the job you are going for like the back of your hand. Remember you were selected because your CV matched the job description.
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Communication.
It is perfectly normal to be nervous in an interview but don’t let it get the better of you. Take your time when answering questions, no one will judge you if you take your time to gather thoughts or even ask the interviewer to repeat the question.
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Know your CV.
Be ready to explain any gaps the interviewer finds and be prepared for them to trip you up.
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Be professional.
Be calm and positive when speaking about yourself. If your interviewer asks ‘why did you leave your last job?’ remain professional and as diplomatic as possible.
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Ask yourself.
Is the glass half empty or half full? Always think positively even in negative situations.
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First impressions count.
Everything about you will be scrutinised so dress well and make that first step into the entrance count. From then on they will be watching your every move.
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Accepting an offer.
You will most likely be contacted by telephone and then a follow up letter. Keep that letter as it is a form of your contracted employment. Make sure you accept the offer in writing before withdrawing any other applications or handing in your notice.
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Cope with rejection.
If your not right for the job then your not right for the job. The best thing to do is make the most out of the situation, ask for feedback and what you can do better. It may be difficult to hear but stay professional this is another step to you getting an all important job.
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Ask your own questions!
This will leave a good impression and show you are truly interested. Think of a couple of questions before hand and make a mental note.
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Feel the fear but do it anyway.
Sometimes you may feel as though you are not experienced enough to go for a particular type of job. However, you can benefit by going to such interviews as it will improve your interview technique, you will gain more experience with how to conduct yourself and when the time is right you will get that all important job.
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Eye contact is key.
When the interviewer is addressing you steel yourself to make eye contact. If there is a panel of interviewers then make eye contact with ALL of the panel not just the good cop.