Preparing for an interview

Do your research

Interview preparation is so important. Researching your potential employer and the role you are interviewing for will enable you to tailor your responses and demonstrate your knowledge. This will show that you are keen and impress your prospective employer as well as helping you devise any questions you may want to ask.

You can research the employer by checking out their website, social media profiles and even blogs and news articles.

Consider appearance

To avoid any last-minute issues, it’s important to plan what you are going to wear before the day of your interview. Different factors can affect what you will be expected to wear such as company size, industry and culture. If you are unsure what the dress code will be you can always ask before attending however if you are unable to ask beforehand it is better to be too smart than too casual.

Travel arrangements

Ensure that you check in advance where your interview will be, how you are going to get there and how long it will take. On the day of your interview it is important to allow plenty of time to get there so that you avoid rushing or being stressed by any possible delays. It is best to aim to arrive a little early.

Be prepared

Remember to take everything that you might need for your interview such as pen and notebook, a copy of your CV, photo ID and a bottle of water. It is also a good idea to read through your CV before your interview to re familiarise yourself with it and be prepared for any questions to could be asked around it.

Your interview

When you first meet with your interviewer/s remember to shake their hand and smile as you want to show that you are friendly and relaxed.

This is your opportunity to sell yourself and to demonstrate why you are the best candidate for the job. You should know the job description inside out and this will help you be able to talk about your relevant experience and give examples of when you have used the skills they are asking for.

During your interview try to respond to questions with positive full answers, be enthusiastic about the role and avoid showing any negativity to your current/previous employers.

A keyway to show that you are interested in the role is to have questions prepared to ask your interviewer and also take notes.

Difficult questions

You could be asked some difficult questions during your interview regarding why you are looking to/have left your employment or in relation to how long you have been out of employment. It is important to think about answers to these questions before your interview so you have an answer prepared and can avoid getting flustered over your response.

No matter what the situation is/was you want to try and put a positive spin on it.

End positively

When the interview is approaching an end, try to conclude on a positive note. To show you are keen on the role and company it is good to ask around what the next steps are and when you can expect to hear back on the outcome and feedback from the interview.

Exit on another handshake, thank them for their time and tell them that you look forward to hearing from them soon.

Summary

Ensure you are fully prepared for your interview and have done your research. Try your best to stay calm, take your time and deliver your answers concisely.