Going to your first interview can be a daunting experience and you’ll need to perform well, even for the most straightforward of jobs. Being well prepared can make all the difference so TARGETjobs have put together a few top tips to help you along.
1. Re-read your application form or CV and covering letter. Remember to take a copy of your CV or application form with you too.
2. Anticipate certain questions you’re likely to be asked and practise your answers with a friend. If it’s your first interview, chat with friends and family about what sort of thing you should expect.
3. Think of specific examples to demonstrate skills you know the employer is looking for. Look at the job description and relate your examples to the specifications.
4. Consider your body language. Avoid negative gestures such as folding your arms or legs, and try to keep nervous habits (such as touching your hair or face) to a minimum. Keep your head up and your shoulders back.
5. Maintain a decent level of eye contact throughout the interview, but especially at the start. If there’s more than one interviewer, address the person who asked the question but remember to look at the others as well.
6. Smile! Enthusiasm is a big selling point, and if you look happy to be there it’s a very good start.
7. Keep your handshake firm and dryish. It may sound old-fashioned, but a limp handshake lingers long in the memory.
8. Give lots of examples of how your experience and skills match their requirements. You can repeat examples from your application form or CV but be prepared to expand on them further.
9. If asked about your ‘weaknesses’ or ‘negative points’, try to turn a weakness into a strength by showing how you dealt with the problem and have learned from it.
10. Give optimistic responses and never be negative or apologetic about yourself. If the interviewer wants to discuss something that didn’t go to plan, concentrate on what you learned from the experience.