The key to a successful interview is preparation… your success may depend on how you conduct yourself in an interview situation – so it is well worth spending time getting organised. The following guidelines may help you:
Conduct relevant research and find out about the company (company websites are an excellent source of information).
Things such as:
Ensure you have gone through the full job description in detail. This will keep what the company are requiring fresh in your mind and will help when relaying your answers and keep the details relevant in what you have to offer to what they are after.
Make notes of your skills/experience relevant to the job. This will help with memorising key points and facts for the interview.
Prepare a list of questions you may want to ask at the interview.
If you are unsure of the location (time it takes to get there or the exact location of the premises), take some time to check it out and if you have time, perform a ‘dummy run’ prior to the day of the interview. This way you will know exactly where it is and how long it takes to get there, ensuring you won’t be late.
Ensure all these things are ready before the day of the interview instead of rushing around in the morning of the big day. Have a folder containing your CV, references and certificates.
INTERVIEW STRUCTURE
Interviews generally follow a set pattern. You will be:
AT THE INTERVIEW
* Remember; it is perfectly acceptable to take notes in with you at an interview as an interview is a test of your knowledge, skills and experience – not a memory test!
When the interview comes to a natural end. You should always:
* Remember; the interview is a two-way process – you should be interviewing your prospective employer as much as they are interviewing you!
For a list of example questions that may be asked by your potential employer and a list of questions you could ask them; please refer to the “Interview Example Questions”