Ah, job interviews. No one in the history of the universe has been known to be particularly fond of them, but they are a necessary step on the road to employment. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been conducting interviews for a new position at work with my boss, and it’s pretty obvious that a lot of these people have absolutely no knowledge of the unwritten “dos and don’ts” of being interviewed. So, from someone who’s been on both sides of the interview room, here’s some basic tips and tricks to help you win over your potential future employers!
Be prepared. Before an interview, ask yourself all the questions you expect to be asked… i.e your strengths, weaknesses, employment history, experience, etc. Ensuring that you know exactly how to answer every question will calm you down and you’ll be able to speak more confidently if you know what to say.
Do your homework. Read up on the company! You don’t need to know that it was founded in 1924 by John Smith who had three sons, two daughters, a cat, a bird and a moustache, but it’s good to know a bit about the company’s mission statement, principles, operations, etc. If you whip out some of that information in your interview, you’ll be sure to impress!
Dress appropriately. We’re humans, we don’t condone it, but we all judge books by their covers. If a girl turned up to my interview wearing a white singlet, denim shorts and a pair of thongs (you English people call them “flip-flops”), I’ve most likely already made my decision about hiring her or not (in this case, NOT). Casual corporate is the way to go. Ladies – a nice business skirt or pant with a cute but modest blouse teamed with a blazer or cardi is a winner. Gents – a nice button-up shirt and business pants. Nothing more, and certainly nothing less. First impressions can be tough.
Be cool. Let’s be honest, you’re going to be nervous, it happens to everyone – you prep yourself and are confident the whole train ride there and as soon as you step foot in the office, your knees begin to feel like jelly and you’re probably struggling to get your words out. Never fear, this is normal. If you’re not confident, pretend you are! Even if you don’t fool your interviewer, it’s always nice to see that you’re putting in the effort to pretend. Little things like this count.
Don’t ‘diss’ your old employer. There is nothing worse than interviewing someone who has nothing good to say about their former job, employer/s and colleagues. If you’re speaking about these people in a negative light, what do you think your interviewer’s going to think about your attitude to work and new colleagues? Just be nice, respectful and don’t pay anyone out (as much of a b***h your last boss was).
Ask questions. Just because you’re the interviewee, that doesn’t mean that you can’t ask some questions yourself. I think it’s great when someone asks you questions in an interview, it shows enthusiasm, interest and a willingness to learn. Make sure you prepare some interesting questions that show off that big brain of yours to your interviewer… it works.
Follow up. Regardless of how you think the interview went, send a ‘thank-you’ email or note to your interviewer, thanking them for their time. It leaves a great lasting impression and shows that you genuinely want the job.
If you get the job: Be happy! You’ve got a job! Ensure you say ‘thank you’ and be professional about your reaction. Don’t scream, that’s not cool.
If you don’t get the job: Thank your interviewer for the opportunity and find out why you weren’t offered a position. Not only will this make a good impression, but it will help you know what your strengths and weaknesses are. Keep trying, though. You’ll be on the road to employment in no time.
Good luck, job hunters!
– Maggie Fowler TW: @maggiefowler
Image from: www.careerworksnova.ca