Tips for Before the Interview

If you fail to prepare, you’re preparing to fail. In order to turn up and give the best performance possible at the interview stage, these interview tips can take to help you feel comfortable. Here are some of the most effective:

• Run over your CV

  Before you actually step through the door, your CV is the main thing an employer has to judge you by. There’s a good chance they will have picked over it with a fine-toothed comb, so be sure to identify any strengths or weaknesses ahead of time. Preparing for the latter is particularly important as having a speedy response to their questions will make you look competent.

• Practice with a mock interview

  If you have a close friend or family member you feel comfortable sitting down with, try as best as you can to go through a ‘dress rehearsal’ of the interview. While it’s hard to recreate the atmosphere of the genuine thing, this practice session could help you feel more relaxed – and even allow you to plan answers to tough questions you weren’t initially expecting.

An important tip is to try to relax the best you can – How to relax before an Interview.

During the Interview

It’s normal to feel some nerves ahead of an interview. A lot of our common interview questions show you don’t need to figure out how to answer interview questions on the spot, but here’s some additional answering advice:

• Make a good first impression from the moment you arrive

  Your interview starts from the moment you arrive. Remember to be polite and professional to everyone you meet.

• If you’re offered a glass of water, accept it

  During your interview, you’ll be glad to take a moment to pause and have a sip of water. It can give your brain the few moments it needs to reflect and respond to a tough interview question in the right way.

• Remember to introduce yourself properly

  It’s easy to rush through the first part of an interview, but take time to say your name and acknowledge that you’re happy to be here.

• Take your time

  You will need the odd few moments to just gather your thoughts when answering interview questions. It can feel like the longest time passes while you’re stumbling over what to say, but it’s never as long as you think. Buy yourself some time by saying ‘That’s a good question’ or ‘I’m glad you’ve asked about that’, or feel free to say you’re just gathering your thoughts.

• Try to focus on the result or impact of your story

  In your responses, it’s likely you’ll be recalling past or present events – try to focus on what your involvement was and what impact you had. You want to be the star of your own interview.

By following these interview tips before and during your interview then you give yourself the best chance to showcase yourself to your potential new employer. Are you interview-ready with your answers to commonly asked interview questions?