Preparing for Interviews

Most people get nervous at interviews - sometimes the interviewer can be just as nervous as the interviewee. There are many different types of interview. Some are casual and others are formal; some are with one person and others are with several; some include presentations or psychometric assessments, others do not; some may even involve more than one interview. So you need to BE PREPARED!

The best ways to prepare for interviews:

• Make sure you are clear about why you applied for the job in the first place
• Make sure you are clear about what your strengths are
• Ask someone to give you a 'mock' interview before the day
• Make sure you know where and when the interview is so that you are not late for the appointment
• Find out as much as you can about the job and the company to which you are applying
• Make sure that you dress appropriately for the interview. If you are unsure what to wear, then it is better to dress formally, rather than casually
• Read your application form before your interview, since this is what got you to the interview in the first place
  
• Try to think of some questions that you may wish to ask the interviewer. If you do this, concentrate on things about the job, rather than about issues such as pay and holiday entitlements
• At the interview be positive, honest and friendly, but formal
• Listen to the questions that you are asked carefully and if you do not understand a question say so.
• At the end of the interview ask when you might hear whether you have been successful or not

If you have not got the job, ask the company for feedback on where you could improve your interview technique.