Any advice for job interviews?
 

As the title says, has anyone got any good advice for job interviews?

I'm having to get a new job, but I never had to have an interview for my current one, so any advice would be useful!

I'm generally a very unconfident, nervous person and will probably stumble over my words a lot! :(

Thanks

Google is your friend, really. There's already so much out there.

1. Know why you want the job. Simply "it's money" won't cut it.
2. Look at what the job description and competencies are, and think of examples that show how you fit/excel at them.
3. Know about the company.
4. Rehearse. Whether this is in front of family, friends, a mirror or a teddy bear, it doesn't matter. You need to say it aloud.
5. Take your time. Everyone gets nervous in an interview. Take a breath, take a sip of water and don't be afraid to say that you'd like a minute to consider your answer.
6. Smile.
7. Ask questions. Is this company for you? An interview is a two-way thing, and you can ask questions. These are normally related to training and development, but it would depend on the role what sort of questions you'd like to ask.

Be carefull about talking too much about things that don't matter. A fav saying of mine is the old one that holds "Its better to be silent and look stupid than to speak and remove all doubt"

Also:

Don't make the interview out to be life or death and freak out. If you get the job you do - and if you don't you don't. That's the attitude you want.

Get there in plenty of time, if your going by public transport - check times and go for the an earlier bus/tram/train. If you can, get there early - you can always grab a coffee/tea before hand at a nearby coffee shop to calm your nerves and think about what you are going to say.

Ask questions - look interested about the company/role and look/come across interested.

If it's a shop - go and have a look around a day or two before your interview so you have knowledge of the store as they are likely to ask you questions about that.

If you don't hear a question properly, or don't understand it - it's okay for you to ask them to repeat the question or them to explain what they mean. They know you will be nervous.

Don't rush your answers, it's okay to think about them.

Look interested - nod/smile.

Always take a copy (or 3 or 4) of your resume with you, even if they already have it. You might not need it but you should be prepared if they ask for it or if they ask you a question about something on it, you will want that information with you.

Come up with a list of questions that you can ask the interviewer (eg What will a typical day look like? What is the company culture like? When can I expect to hear back from you? that type of thing. Google can help with this.) Typically they will ask at the end of the interview if you have any questions for them. I would recommend typing out and printing up a list and take it to the interview with you. You don't have to ask all the questions but it will make you look prepared and it's a safety net in case you forget what you were going to ask. You don't have any control over the questions they will ask you (though you can guess at some of the standard ones) but you do have control over what you ask them.

Google is a huge help. I got most of my interviewing information from about.com. They cover pretty much everything, even what to wear for different types of interviews. University websites usually have pretty good information on careers, interviewing is part of that. As far as I've found, the information is public, you don't actually have to go to the school to access that information.

the above advice is all really good.
The only thing I can add to it is a little trick I use; drink an energy drink or a coffee about ten minutes before your interview, it'll give your brain a boost, help you think of answers quicker and the energy boost will make you seem perky and enthusiastic for the job. Since first impressions count the most looking like your eager for the work is the best impression.

Research the company thoroughly. One interview I had they asked me what the beliefs of the company meant to me.
Research the role you are going for.
Good hand shake to start it off which should be accompanied with a smile.
Present yourself well. Clean shaven (if you are male), tidy haircut etc
A personal favourite of mine is to wear a suit. (Probably not if it's a shelf stacking job or fast food worker). I find wearing a suit makes me more confident in myself.
Above all, practice, practice and practice what you are going to say.
Good luck

Try to be authentisch/real, Try to be you and not someone Else.

Thank you so much for all of the advice, it really has helped!
Fingers crossed I at least get some interviews now!
Does anyone know roughly how long it can take after sending out applications/cv's? I only sent mine out yesterday

I don't think there is a definitive answer. I've had replies after a few days before. One time, it took four weeks for the company to send me a rejection letter and then I got a call two days later to go in for an interview the following week!? You just have to wait it out

Not sure if I'm repeating anything that's already been said but:

1. Have a firm handshake - don't be all floppy-handed, neither should you hurt them haha

2. Eye contact - makes you seem interested/friendly

3. Be honest - obviously it's good to talk about positive things and you won't want to come across badly, but be honest, and if the job is suited for you, you'll get it :)

4. Don't rush - you don't have to answer a question the second they finish asking it. It's okay to take a few seconds to think of what you want to say in reply.

5. Don't compromise. If they ask 'are you willing to work [insert extra days/hours here] if necessary?' and you aren't, then be frank and say so. It's important that you get into a job you will enjoy and will be convenient for you, as well as your employer. (Obviously this is subjective and depends on the individual, and it is good to be flexible where possible).

6. Most importantly - be yourself, and try and see it as a beneficial experience :) Good luck!

Haha okay, i'll just wait and see! :)

Thank you for all the advice!

Definately research the company and look at it's website google etc. as chances are they will ask questions about this

Dress appropriately for the job i.e. wear a suit if it's an office job etc. My friend applied to be an air hostess and she wore appropriate shoes i.e heels but not ridiculous and apparantly those who wore ridiculous heels got questioned on it as the job entails walking lots and thus ridiculous heels weren't appropriate

Be early as it won't look good if you aren't on time due to an unexpected delay or traffic or..... If you don't know where your going and you can do a recee do as it will mean you know where your going and so on but also if they say how did you find getting here you will get brownie points if you say I did a recee a few days ago so much the better.

Lastly try not to be nervous! The worst thing that will happen is you don't get the job and whilst that would suck it's not the end of the world. The right job will come along when your least expecting it!

Good Luck!

Thanks for the help! My answers are in red, which apply to the main job I am going for (I have applied for others but they are not really what I want to do)

A recce is a trip before hand to find the venue and in the case of the shop I would go into it for a look around prior to the interviews.

Outfit wise what your suggesting sounds good!

Ah I see, i've already done that then :)

Thanks!

Here's the top 5 job interview tips from monster.co.uk
1. Do your research
Fail to plan, and you plan to fail. You are certain to be asked specific questions about the company, so make sure you've done your homework on things like their last year's profits and latest product launches. Also take a look at the latest developments in the industry so you can converse with confidence.

2. Practice your answers
Although there is no set format that every job interview will follow, there are some questions that you can almost guarantee will crop up. You should prepare answers to some of the most common interview questions about your personal strengths and weaknesses, as well as being able to explain why you would be the best person for the job.

3. Look the part
Appearances shouldn't matter, but the plain fact is that you are often judged before you've even uttered a word. Make sure your shoes are polished, your clothes fit correctly and that your accessories are subtle. Dressing one level above the job you're applying for shows a desire to succeed.

4. Stay calm
Good preparation is the key to staying in control. Plan your route, allowing extra time for any unexpected delays, and get everything you need to take with you ready the night before. Remember to speak clearly, smile and remember that your interviewers are just normal people, and the may be nervous too!

5. Ask questions
You should always have some questions for your interviewer to demonstrate your interest in the position. Prepare a minimum of five questions, some which will give you more information about the job, and some which delve deeper into the culture and goals of the company.

This sounds like a simple tip but smile when you walk in. It really helps