Interview tips!

Interview Checklist

You have done your job research and made your phone calls. It is now time to get ready for the interview. Below are some great ways to get ready and be confident about your upcoming job
interview.

Handy Hint: Employers hire on 65% attitude and 35% skill. This means that even though you may not have exactly what is needed for the job, if your body language and behaviour shows that you are enthusiastic and eager to learn, you will probably fi nd yourself employed quicker than you think.

Preparing for an interview

Learn as much as you can about the job you are applying for and what it involves. This is so you are really confident about why you are going for the position and you are aware of what is involved. Learn something about the company to which you are applying. Doing this makes you knowledgeable about the company as a whole.

Find out things like:

• What does the company produce or what services do they deliver?
• Do they have different departments and what do they do?
• Have an idea of where the company is situated.

Be prepared to show the employer how s/he can benefit from hiring you. Here you basically need to sell yourself and your abilities. An employer is not going to hire someone who is unsure about what they can do. Be confident and enthusiastic about the job you are going for.

Prepare a list of questions you can ask at the end of the interview. This shows that you are interested in the position and want to know more. You may want to ask questions specific to the job you are going for and/or clarify anything you did not understand, like how your job fits into the company as a whole etc.

Always arrive about 15 minutes before your interview time. This will show your potential employer that you are organised and eager. You do not want to be late or look rushed for an interview. On the other hand, don’t be too early either.

Commonly asked interview questions

Practice answering the questions below. They will help you to be prepared for your interview.

Handy hint: Practice your speech and body language in front of the mirror so you know how you look to others.

• Tell us a bit about yourself.
• What made you apply for this job?
• Why do you think you want to work here?
• What skills or knowledge do you have that relate to this area?
• How well do you work under pressure?
• What do you know about this job?
• How do you think you work as part of a team?
• Why did you leave school?
• What do you expect from this job?
• When are you available to start work?
• Why should we hire you?
• How would you describe yourself as an employee?

Be positive in all your answers. Don’t retell negative experiences of school or work, even if you were asked to leave.

Below is an example.
“School was not the place for me to be at this point. I believe I
would be performing far better in the workplace because I am a
really hard worker and this is where I want to be.”

Your appearance at an interview

The way you look at an interview can often help an employer decide whether they want to hire you or not.

Do:

Plan what you are going to wear the night before your interview. This will give you the time to carefully choose what you are going to wear. Ask a family member for their opinion. Be careful with your choice of clothing. You want the employer to focus on what you are saying, not on what you are wearing. Be conservative in what you wear, particularly the colours you choose. Don’t be adventurous in what you choose to wear for an interview.

Be well groomed. You need to be neat and tidy in all areas of your appearance, including hair, clothes and body odour.

Organise your trip well before leaving. Make sure you check bus/train timetables or a Melways the day before, so you know exactly when and where you are going. If you can do a practice run to the company, even a day before the interview, that’s a bonus. It saves time in getting lost on the actual interview day.

Don’t:

Chew Gum

Have the smell of smoke on your breath or clothing

Be negative about any aspect of the company eg: employers past or present, required work or working hours.

During the interview

• Introduce yourself to the interviewer(s) and shake hands.
• Sit only when asked to.
• Be relaxed but not too relaxed. You want to look alert and interested in what’s going on around you.
• Never be familiar.
• Make sure you maintain eye contact with your interviewer(s). Where possible, look at all the interviewers while answering questions.
• Answer questions clearly and to the point. Be sure not to speak for too long.
• Never interrupt the interviewer before they finish asking the question.
• Ensure your body language displays confidence. Little things like sitting up straight, smiling, not fidgeting and looking at the people you are speaking to, are always looked upon favourably by an employer.
• Be conscious of signs that an interview is coming to an end.
• Organise to contact the employer in four days regarding the job.
• Always thank the interviewers for their time and tell them how you look forward to hearing from them. Shake their hands at the end.
• If there are no jobs available, on your next point of contact:
  • Mention your interest in part time jobs.
  • Ask them if they know of any other places that are looking for employees.