When you get a call from a company inviting you in for an
interview, begin by thanking them for the opportunity. Then confirm the time,
date and name of the person you'll be meeting and what their title is. It's
also very important to ask if you should bring anything with you to the interview.

What should your preparation involve?

The first thing to consider is the basic, yet most important
factors, like knowing the company's name, address, telephone number and name of
the person who will be interviewing you. It's a good idea to use a website like
Streetmap to locate the company, to ensure you've got the right address and
also get directions on how to get there. You then need to find out as much as
you can about the company and their website is the ideal place to look,
otherwise you can use sources like the Companies House library. It's important
to find out what form the interview will take, too so you're prepared for
whatever is thrown at you. For example, will it be competency based? Is it
going to include behavioural questions? Is it going to be very informal, or are
you going to be asked tough management questions? Find out whether it's going
to be a one-to-one or a panel interview and check whether the interview will
include psychometric tests. If they do, find out what type of testing is going
to be used, because you'll need to prepare for that. There are a couple of
websites, like www.uk.tickle.com, that will help get the grey matter working in
the right way.

Should you do a mock interview beforehand?

It's a good idea to practice interview techniques with a
parent, partner or a friend. If you type 'typical interview techniques' into a
search engine there are loads of websites with standard competency-based
interview questions. One of the first you're likely to be asked is how much you
know about the company, so make sure you know things like when they were
established, how many offices they have, the number of staff, whether they're
national or international, and their ethos, etc. They will probably then ask
you to tell them about yourself, so give a short summary of qualifications,
career, skills and what you'd bring to the role. Another obvious question is
why you're leaving your current job, but make sure you don't badmouth previous
managers or companies.

How else can you create a good impression?

You need demonstrate a match between your background and the
needs of the employer. Make sure you have a full understanding of the job
description, and that includes the type of job, the responsibilities, and the
kind of person they're looking for. You can ask the agency for this
information, or if you're applying directly to the company then ask them for a
full copy of the job description and person specification. Then take a look at
your qualifications, strengths and weaknesses and see how they measure up to
what the company is looking for. Look at your experience, skills and
qualifications and consider what knowledge-based skills you have, which will
probably be acquired from education and experience. This would include computer
skills, languages, training and technical ability. And look at transferable
skills, like your communication and people skills, analytical problem solving
and planning skills. See how your personal traits fit into the person
specification and ask yourself if you are dependable, flexible, hard working, expressive,
a team player and whether you can cope on your own.

What other things should you consider before the interview?

Leave ample time to get there so you're not flustered on
arrival, and give yourself time to relax so you're fully prepared when you go
in. If you are driving to the interview, find out where you can park, while if
you're going by public transport, make sure you know how long it's going to
take to get from the train station or bus stop. Most importantly, switch off
your mobile phone before you go in. The worst thing that could happen during an
interview is for your phone to ring – the interview would be over then and
there.

How should you dress for an interview?

The first thing an interviewer will notice is how you're
dressed, so make sure you dress for success. Wear a conservative suit with a
clean blouse, or shirt for men with tailored trousers and jacket. Not everybody
owns a suit and you can get some good separates but make sure that it's smart -
and don't forget to check that your shoes are clean. Men also need to remember
to wear socks that tone in with the rest of their suit, so no patterned or
white socks! An interview is not the time to make a fashion statement and
fashion is notoriously fickle, so err on the side of caution - it's time to be
conservative. The fabric is important too so don't wear linen because it
creases badly and silk marks easily. Ladies should keep the handbag small or
take a briefcase because it looks organised. It's very important to take a
handkerchief as well because you don't want to start snivelling and coughing
during an interview and be without a hankie! Don't wear too much jewellry and
take out any facial piercings. Earrings are fine, but if you've got more than
one hole in your ears then just wear one pair. One website we put people in
touch with is www.styledirections.com, which can give you advice on what to
wear.

How can you combat pre-interview nerves?

The only way to combat nerves is through good preparation,
so knowing the company and what experience, skills and the type of person they
are looking for is imperative. You can't prepare answers to all the questions,
but get to know your CV. Be honest and try to smile and build a bit of a
rapport with the interviewer, because 90% of the time you can do that, it's
very rare for them to be completely rigid and not forthcoming.

What things should you take with you?

It's a good idea to take a passport, because you may be
asked whether you're eligible to work in the UK and you'll need to prove that
you are. Also, take a copy of your CV along, because there's nothing worse than
forgetting something on there and then getting asked about it. Make sure you
know your CV inside out and that you haven't lied about any dates or
qualifications.

What should you keep in mind at the beginning of the interview?

The first things an interviewer will notice about you is how
you're presented, your initial greeting, what your handshake is like, and how
you greet them. When waiting in reception, don't sit down because when somebody
approaches you, you'll already be lower than them. If you're standing in
reception then you don't have to get out of the chair and you'll be at the same
level as them, which shows confidence. But don't stand there aimlessly. Walk
around the reception and have a look what's on the walls because there will be pictures
and information. Pick up a brochure and start reading because it shows
interest. When you're collected from reception, make sure you make small talk
with them. Perhaps you can comment on the building or the weather? When you
introduce yourself, shake hands firmly, but it's not the time to have power
struggles, so be firm but not aggressive. At the same time, there's nothing
worse than a limp handshake!

What mistakes do people tend to make at interviews?

Don't ask about salary or holiday benefits during the first
interview because it can put people off. Leave that until the second interview,
if there is one. Also, don't smoke or eat just beforehand. Some people are very
anti-smoking so resist the urge for a cigarette for at least two or three hours
before you go in. It is okay to pause before answering a question, and if you
don't know the answer, don't just waffle. A pregnant pause isn't a problem
because it gives you time to really think about the question and the answer you're
going to give. Don't twitch or bite your nails during the interview, and if you
tend to fidget and use your hands a lot then gently rest them in your lap.
Maintain positive, but not intimidating, eye contact and don't stare too much
or forget to blink. Undo your jacket if you feel restricted and ensure that you're
comfortable. However, it's also important to maintain good posture and don't
slouch. Pay attention to the interviewer's body language - if they are softly
spoken you need to be softly spoken too, while if they are very confident you
also need to be confident. If it's a panel interview, distribute all eye
contact between everyone on the panel.

What questions should you ask at the end of an interview?

To get the best out of the interview you need to have
questions ready. You can even write them down if that helps, and there's no
harm in taking a notebook and pen in with you because it shows that you've
prepared and that you're interested in the role and the company. Most people in
interviews are in answer mode, so their mind often goes blank when they're
asked if they have any questions. The interviewer then thinks they aren't
interested in the role or haven't prepared for the interview. Tell them you've
had a look at their website or at the information you've found through the
library. Some good things to ask about include what kind of training will be
provided and what format will it take, whether the position will involve
working alone or in a team, and if it will involve teamwork then how many
people are in the team. You could also ask about the company's future aims and
developments, and the growth potential for this position. And how does the
company recognise employee accomplishments - what qualities do the most
successful employees in the company posses.

How should you close the interview?

If you feel the interview has gone well then ask when they
think the second interviews are going to take place, and don't forget to smile
when you leave. Again, shake hands firmly and thank the interviewer for their
time, and let them know if you're interested in the job. Feel free to ask if
they have any reservations about you and if they do then they can clear them up
there and then, because later on it might be too late. The interviewer may
invite you to tour the offices and don't forget that you'll still be under the
microscope during this time. Make sure you speak to people, show interest in
what they're doing, and shake people's hands because they will be looking to
see how you interact with the rest of the team. Don't be afraid to ask
questions and look to see whether the employees look happy. This is also an
opportunity for you to check out the company for yourself.

How should you follow up the interview?

Drop them an email to thank them for their time and let them
know you're very interested in the role, saying why. If the company said they'd
be in touch with you by Friday, for example, and it's Tuesday or Wednesday of
the following week, call them and say that you're very interested to hear how
you got on and ask them for some feedback.

What is the key to a successful interview?

Preparation, preparation, preparation - you can't over
prepare. If you haven't read the job or the person specification, you'll always
fail. The more preparation you do and the more enthusiastic you are about the
role and the company, the more likely you are to get the job.

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About The Author

This article was written by Lorraine Ragosa-Rout of First 4 Personnel Ltd

Author Profile

First 4 Personnel are an established independent Recruitment Consultancy, Surrey-based, with highly qualified and experienced consultants providing a full recruitment solution of temporary and permanent staff.

Our mission is to do all the basic recruitment work, leaving our clients with the right selection of candidates to choose from. Our approach is unique; we provide a personal service to each client through a dedicated Account Manager, who will also liaise with the other Account Managers for vacancies in their area of responsibility, providing support in all of our recruitment sectors.

All our consultants are fully qualified, trained and have the right attitude, capability and long term view of providing a dedicated personal service to both candidates and clients.

Author's Contact Details

Lorraine Ragosa-Rout
First 4 Personnel Ltd
32 High Street
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 3EL

Telephone: 01483 829 829
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First 4 Personnel Ltd website »

AllGuildfordJobs are very grateful to Lorraine Ragosa-Rout and First 4 Personnel Ltd for taking the time to provide this advice, please use the contact details above if you'd like to contact First 4 Personnel Ltd.

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