Interview tips

Having interviewed hundreds if not thousands of people, we are happy to offer the following advice. This is one area where old fashioned is definitely the best approach. It may seem fashionable to follow the latest dress or appearance trends but you must take care not to offend

Tip (1) Find our as much as you can about the company before you get there.

The internet is a massively useful resource. Company accounts, news items, company newsletters, reports, etc. can be a very useful talking point. Take spare copies of application forms, CV’s and any other papers that you may find useful with you. If the interviewer has lost your CV it will give you massive brownie points to save the interviewers blushes.

Tip (2) Allow plenty of time to find the location of the interview.

Borrow a satellite navigation system if travelling by car but make sure the post code you are using is correct. If you are in any doubt, go to the post office postcode finder and make doubly sure. Do not under any circumstances turn up late. If you do find yourself running late, phone ahead

Tip (3) Dress conservatively to impress.

Boring is best- don’t offend, conservative and neutral colours are preferred.

For men, that means a suit- at the very least, a collar and tie. For ladies, smart business attire is the order of the day. Whilst attitudes to dress have and are changing, the point is that you cannot afford the opportunity to offend anyone through choosing anything too way out. At the very least, take some time to find out the dress code in the organisation that you will hopefully be working for. In the media and some IT departments, more casual attire is perfectly acceptable. The point is, wear appropriate clothing.

Finally, make sure that clothing is clean and pressed, paying particular attention to shoes- as uncomfortable as it may be to you, many people see dirty shoes as a sign that the person doesn’t care.

Tip (4) Be clean and well groomed

Wash your hair, make sure your nails are clean- clean your teeth and shower before the meeting. If you have a long journey before you arrive, travel in comfortable clothes and take your interview kit with you. Take a wash bag so you can give yourself a strip wash if needed.

Tip (5) Who are you meeting?

Make sure you know the name and title of the person you are meeting. A persons name is one of the most important things in the world to them- make sure you know the interviewers name, use it often- it makes you seem much more amenable and friendly.

Tip (6) First impressions really do count

Never ever assume anything about anyone- I’ve lost count of the times that people have failed to get a job because they have ignored/ been rude to someone. Everyone is important- from the receptionist to the MD. You never know who you are meeting, and also how much influence they have. Be civil, be polite and treat everyone as you would wish to be treated yourself. I know plenty of interviewers who, after the interview will make a point of asking the receptionist how the interviewee behaved in reception.

Now you’ve arrived in time, properly dressed and knowing the name of the person you’re meeting, when you finally do meet the interviewer, make eye contact, shake hands firmly, and use the interviewers name in the first minute of the conversation. For example, ‘Hello, I’m Glenn Hughes, and I’m pleased to meet you Mr Johnston’.  is a country mile better that ‘Hi- I’m Glenn , who are you?’

Tip (7) Sit still and pay attention

Once inside the interview room, wait until you are asked to sit down- it shows manners and a healthy respect for authority.

Once seated, pay attention to what is being asked of you- sit still and upright in your chair, lean slightly forward towards the interviewer and show you are interested

Tip (8) Answer the questions that you are asked.

Pay attention to what is being asked of you, answering the questions honestly and positively. Never run down a previous boss- it looks bad on you. If you are asked to explain gaps in your CV, be prepared and be honest. If you have prepared properly and got your CV written professionally, you won’t have a problem

Tip (9) Be prepared to highlight key achievements in your career

When you are asked questions about previous job roles, be fully prepared with real examples of where you have shone in the past. Show real, quantifiable benefits- for example, I was responsible for increasing sales by 22% and margin by 17% over 12 months sounds a lot more convincing than ‘I increased sales’.

Tip (10) The interviewer wants to find the right candidate

The whole purpose of the job interview is to find he best candidate. The interviewer’s job is to find that candidate- they aren’t there to reject you- they want to find good people. Be confident, be honest and be yourself

Tip (11) Don’t raise the subject of money yourself.

Be cool- it has to be raised at some point or you can’t be offered the job. Wait until the interviewer raises the subject. When they do, stand your ground, be non committal and se what is being offered before you react. Don’t be hasty- many people will try a low offer first- many employers won’t raise the subject at interview at all.

Tip (12) Be prepared with intelligent questions that you will ask

If the interviewer asks if there are any questions that you want to ask, be prepared. Ask about plans for the future, products in the news, people, promotions, career structures, etc. Make sure you are interested in them, show how you can help the company make progress

Tip (13) It’s not over ‘til it’s over

Ask what will happen from here- is there another interview?, when will they be in touch?, etc. Don’t speed out of the car park- remember to say goodbye to everyone you meet on the way out. Be calm- no matter how well you think it has gone, don’t show it. Keep your feelings to yourself at this stage

Hard questions about your career

Most people spend no time whatever in deciding what they want in life- they drift along, dealing with each day as it comes and then wondering where their life went. In the end, where you end up in life is down to you. Start to ask yourself some difficult questions- you’ll be glad that you did.

What sort of boss do you want to work for?

Let’s face it, we all have a boss or someone we are accountable to- If you don’t, you need to be accountable to someone, even if it is yourself.

What sort of boss do you want to work for? Is it someone kind, considerate, loving and caring? Is it someone who bends to your every wish and lets you have time off whenever you need it? Or do you live in the real world. The best boss works for the best companies- they are demanding, yet respectful of you as an individual.

The bottom line is that you need to find the best company for you. We can help you focus your career in the right direction and identify the best organisational fit for you. Ask yourself the question ‘What sort of boss do you want to work for?’ Your answer will show you the direction that you should be heading in, the sort of company that you should be looking to work for.

How much money do you want to earn?

Ask yourself this hard question. If you really want to make an extra £10,000 or whatever that figure is for you, of course it is possible. In fact, it is highly likely that you can make that much extra and so much more. The fact is that it is highly likely that there are people in the same industry as you, making more money than you and working for better companies.

We can help you get your CV and cover letter to those companies- our CV distribution service will open doors for you that you never thought to be open to you. We can help but ask yourself the hard question first- How much money do you want to earn?

Does my employer’s culture suit me?

Have you considered the implications for me and my family carefully enough? Is working long hours going to suit me in the short, medium or long term? Let’s face it, there are times in our lives when it’s easier to work long hours- when you’ve just graduated, or even when the kids have grown up are some examples. Plan your career- don’t work long hours for he sake of it. You can work hard and play hard for a while but not for your whole career.

Where in the world do I want to work?

Ask yourself this question and the answer may surprise you. Do you want to work in the UK or is somewhere else of more interest? Working in a foreign country may seem idyllic but there will almost certainly be cultural, social or even language issues to contend with. The important thing is to consider where you want to work. Decide, plan your career and start to make the necessary steps to make the dream a reality.

What sort of working environment do I want?

Many people love working in an office- the company, friendships and predictable hours suit them just fine, and they work happily there. For others, working in an office every day is a living nightmare- they crave the freedom that comes from variety of surroundings. Wherever you want to work, there is a place for you- outdoors, indoors, driving, travelling, wherever, decide what sort of working environment suits you.

 

The purpose of asking yourself these questions is to give your career some direction- we can help you to take the next steps by getting a professional CV and cover letter written. We can help with the distribution of that CV. Get in touch, we can help