 Preparation for an interview is vital, especially if your CV is one you sent to your agency six months ago, and you have forgotten the details. Always keep a copy for yourself and have a spare copy of your own CV to leave with the interviewee.
Research
the company
Get
to know the company and what it does, especially if there are any clashes of
ideology between your beliefs and the company. For example, you might be
working in a meat processing company, and if you are a vegetarian looking for a
position in the IT department, when being interviewed that may come up. You
need to understand where the company is in the marketplace.
An
interview with a major car manufacturer may be questionable if there are
rumours that the company is in serious financial trouble. Take time to find out
the name of your interviewer and if there are to be any tests while you are
there, such as technical evaluation or IT skills. What they need to know is
that you are willing to learn their way of doing things - it is not good to
show you are sure that you can change their world for what you perceive is the
'better'.
Presentation
is all important
You
never get a second chance to make a first impression, so make sure you dress appropriately.
A well tailored suit is required for the occasion, not the gear you would wear
on the dance floor or for a night out with the girls.
Ladies,
the makeup needs to be what looks good in daylight not what you wear on a hen
night. Check your makeup in daylight as you leave the house and use this time
to check that your face looks pretty and natural, not garish or tarty.
Be
relaxed and assured.
If
you are travelling any distance don't take your chances with the traffic. Allow
yourself ample time to make sure you arrive a few minutes early and use the
rest room. There is nothing more embarrassing than having to stop an interview
and use the rest room!
Turn
your phone off before you start, and make sure you have told anyone who needs
to know that you have arrived before you start the interview.
Watch
your interviewer and make sure he or she knows that they are in charge. You may
find that in a large company you are interviewed by more than one person,
sometimes both at the same time. You need to complete one answer before
starting to answer the next question.
Accept
any refreshments graciously, but try and avoid anything too large for your
mouth or too messy.
Answer
questions honestly while looking at the person that is asking the question. Do
not forget to include other interviewers and never cut them off short. Try to
look people in the eye when you talk to them, you will appear more confident
and you won't seem shifty!
There
are two perceptions that are happening - yours and theirs. What does your
interviewer perceive about you? Do they see someone shifty and evasive or are
they seeing someone open and confident. The problem often is that you do not
know the team that you are being interviewed for, and so you cannot know what
sort of personality they are looking for to fit into that team. They may look
to complement or balance the people they already have. What do you perceive
about the company? That visit to the rest room at the start of the interview is
not only useful but it may help you decide if you want to work for that
company. A company that looks after its employees has good rest rooms, and a
not so good one has bad rest rooms. Always remember that perception works in
both directions.
Preparation,
Presentation, and Perception are the keys to your interview success.
Article by
Rachel Goodchild
 Add as favourites (0) |  Quote this article on your site
Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
Be first to comment this article
