Welcome to Part 5 of the School Leaver Series.
We would like to offer you an interview!
Those are the words we want to hear, but can also fill people with a feeling of dread.
In this blog we give you our top tips to help you feel confident and give a good impression to your potential new employer.
Top 10 tips on how to be interviewed!
- Pre-interview prep: Before your interview, make sure you have done your research. Have a read up about the company and the work that they do. Check the route to get there and make sure you know where you are going and how long it will take to get there.
- Dress appropriately: It is important to dress smartly and appropriately for the job you are going for. You need to show that you are ready for the job.
- Be on time: Do your best to be a little early. If you are stuck in traffic, make sure you call to let them know. It is better to apologise for being a bit early than for being late. If you cannot make the date and time, let them know. It is very rude to not turn up.
- Greet appropriately: Greet your potential new employer correctly, say hello with a smile on your face and a good handshake. Listen carefully to the names of the people who are interviewing you and who you, Make sure you remember them as you may need to speak to them directly.
- Use appropriate language: It is important when being interviewed to use appropriate language. Do not use swear words or slang and make sure you speak clearly fort hem to hear you.
- Take notes: Take a notebook and a reliable pen with you so you can take some notes, as you may not remember everything you have been told.
- CV: Take copies of your CV with you. They will likely have a copy printed off but it is always good to go prepared.
- Prepare your own questions: Have a few questions written down that you may want to clarify such as career paths within the business and any continual professional development opportunities. Avoid asking about salary and wait for them to bring it up.
- Listen: It is important to listen more than talk. Make sure you listen to any questions they ask and ensure you answer the question with as much detail as possible.
- Follow up: As you leave the interview confirm the follow up procedures after the interview and thank them for their time.
Now you wait!
The interview has taken place and now you are waiting to hear if you have been successful. You need to be ready to answer the call and look out for any unknown numbers calling. If you cannot answer the phone due to other commitments, then make sure you call them back as soon as possible. If you haven’t been successful, do not take it too personally. There are a lot of applicants for not many positions. Try to ask for some feedback as to what you can do to improve for next time.
We hope you have found the above tips useful. Good luck in those interviews!
Look out for the last instalment of the School Leaver Series next week.