EXPLORE CAREERS
Interview Do's and Don'ts
What to do:
- Keep your answers focused on what you can do for the employer, not what they can do for you
- Dress smartly, look bright and attentive, and speak clearly and confidently. Don’t forget that in the first few minutes only 7% of the interviewer’s opinion if formed by what you say – the rest is judged on how you look, act and sound
- Find out where the venue is beforehand, how to get there and how long it takes
- Get your outfit ready the night before
- Find out what kind of interview it will be so you can prepare
- Examine the person specification and your CV/application form, and think about what type of questions they will ask you
- Prepare answers for the main questions – for example, why do you want the job, what are your strengths and weaknesses, what are the main tasks in this job?
- Make about three or four points in each answer.
- Quote real examples of when you’ve used certain skills – just saying you’ve got a skill isn’t enough
- Take your time when answering the questions: make sure you understand the question and take your time if you need to think
- Sell yourself: no one else is going to! Be positive about yourself and your experience
- Prepare some questions to ask at the end of the interview – use it as an opportunity to find out more about the role and the company. (Don’t ask about money or perks just yet!)
- When discussing salary, know your market worth and start by quoting a little higher than this
- Get feedback on your performance, whether you were successful or not
- Turn off your mobile phone: treat the interviewers with respect and give them your undivided attention
What not to do:
- Don’t be late
- Don’t swear or use slang words
- Don’t slouch in your in your seat or do anything that makes you look uninterested
- Don’t smoke
- Don’t lie: the interviewer may see through you. Even if you get the job, your employer can dismiss you if they find out that you have not been honest!
- Don’t let your nerves show too much; a few nerves are normal but extreme nerves will affect your performance. Using breathing techniques and try to remember that it’s not a life or death situation – there are plenty of jobs out there!
- Don’t be arrogant and assume you’ve got the job. Nothing turns off employers more than someone who is disrespectful and over – confident
- Don’t discuss controversial topics such as religion, politics and gender relations
- Don’t read from notes or your CV – you should be familiar enough with your own history to be able to talk about it unprompted.
