A job interview can be one of the most stressful experiences a person can have. There are so many unknown factors to contend with and so much rests on it; you really what that job, right? While it would be impossible to have a totally stress free job interview (if there are no nerves at all you’re not taking it seriously enough!), it is possible to take yourself from panic mode to that of control with a heightened sense of purpose and focus.
1. Preparation – Some if this is so simple, yet all too often people fall at this first hurdle. Do you know the location of the office the interview is being held in?
The second aspect of preparation is knowledge of the company.Use the internet to find out about the company; What do they sell or produce? Who are their customers? Are they local, national or international? When were they founded? How many people work for them? Are they active in the community e.g. charity support? What is their mission statement? And so on.
2. First Impressions – There are estimates that well over 90% of a person’s initial judgements of others are made in the first minute of meeting. That may sound unfair, but I assure you we all do it and your interviewer is no different.
3. Body Language – Some simple tips: – Don’t cross your arms – Maintain good eye contact and smile – Don’t point or have flamboyant arm movements – Try to mirror the body position of the interviewer – Shake hands firmly, but don’t break any bones!
4. Answering their questions There are thousands of websites showing the typical interview questions you might face. You should have pre-prepared answers to all of them and a good knowledge of them so you can answer them effortlessly in the interview. You need to do the groundwork on this, but don’t commit the answers to memory so you sound like a robot.
5. Asking questions – You MUST ask some questions at the end of the interview, but don’t focus on the money and what’s in it for you. Here are some examples;
- How will my performance be monitored? – Who will I report to? – What will my training consist of? – What are my key responsibilities?
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