Perform Well At An Interview

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As recruiters we see the mistakes that people make at interview and it is these mistakes that often cause people to lose their dream job. The following advice is based on our experiences and designed to maximise your chances of success.

DO

• Do a trial run to the company where the interview in advance. This allows you to see where it is and how long it takes to get there
• Research the company. Find its website and/or obtain its accounts. It will make you look interested in the company.
• Be on time for the interview.
• Call and let the company know if you are stuck in traffic or you are going to be late through no fault of your own.
• Apologise if you are late.
• Dress to win – dress smartly.
• Be courteous to everyone you meet in the company – you don’t know who has influence with the interviewer.
• Think in advance about what kind of questions a company might ask you based on the job role you have applied for and your current role. Consider what kind of answers you might give and what they might want to hear.
• Write down the questions you have thought of and ask a relative or friend to pretend to interview you. This will help you to be ready should the same questions come up in an interview
• If you go to an interview and don’t get the job, add the questions that they asked and you hadn’t thought of to your list.
• If you can, find out from the company or your recruiter where you have gone wrong in interviews and avoid making the mistake again.
• Keep answers to interview questions relevant.
• Show that you are interested by having your own questions about the company and the role prepared for the interviewer.

DON’T

• Waffle. It bores the recruiter and indicates that you can’t do the role you have applied for.
• Be negative in your approach to the interview, the role you are applying for or your last company.
• Be late for the interview.
• Don’t wear scruffy clothes, smoke or chew gum.
• Don’t answer your mobile and chat on it instead of focussing on the interviewer.

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