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Congratulations,
your
application has been successful and you have been
invited for an interview.
Preparing for the interview is one of the most
import parts of the interview Many interviews
are decided within the first few moments by factors
beyond the interviewees control: his or her appearance,
accent, a chance remark, how many people the interviewers
have already seen, whether they have already seen
the person they want, and so on. That said, by
effectively preparing for the interview you can
help avoid some simple errors and tilt the balance
your way
Remember that an interview is a two-way process:
it is an opportunity for the employer to get to
know more about you and your achievements and
is an excellent chance for you to find out more
about them and their culture. Make the most of
the experience by ensuring you are fully prepared.
If effort is put into preparing for an interview
you will increase your confidence and your ability
to deal effectively with the questions asked.
The following points will be
helpful when preparing for the interview:
Learn as much as you can about the company.
Read the employer's literature, look at their
website. You should know roughly the number of
employees and turnover, the main locations and
products and services.
Don't be afraid to ask.
If you know people who work in this field, particularly
within the business area for which you are interviewing,
don't be afraid to contact them and ask them questions
Prepare
Why does this job exist? What problems will it
solve? What are the Key Result Areas
Additional points
Compare the employer's job description to your
application, ask yourself what additional points
you need to make at the interview and find evidence
which would shows the interviewer that you meet
the requirements. Make a list.
Be courteous to everyone from the moment you walk
through the front door: treat everyone you meet
as if they have the power to employ you.
Prepare for routine questions
for instance your motivation or your decision-making
process, but also consider awkward questions.
Particularly, think how to explain apparent time
gaps in your life history.
List some questions to ask the interviewer
Don't for get an interviewer want to see how you
ingage. Three or four thoughtful questions will
be enough.
Read the national/local press regularly and
be prepared to discuss current issues.
Know yourself
Think about why a career in this area is of interest
to you. What skills do you have that would help
you to succeed? Be prepared to use examples from
all aspects of your life. What are your strengths
and weaknesses? What are you looking for in a
career?
Prepare possible responses to questions in
advance.
Some interviews are competency based, so think
about your answers and supporting examples. If
you have not had much interview experience, attending
practice sessions at your university careers service
can be beneficial. Remember - however prepared
you are you will still need to show that you can
think on your feet on the day.
* - On Interviw Day -
Dress for success, Dress to impress
Wear appropriate business dress and act professionally
at all times. Work out what is appropriate in
terms of everything you present, including yourself.
Look the part, and you will feel it. Dress as
if you are already doing the job.
Make sure you know the names of the people
who will be interviewing you. Practice saying
them if they are difficult to pronounce.
Don't be late
Allow plenty of time to travel to your interview
and plan your route the evening before. Arriving
too early or late is an unfortunate way to start
your interview.
Arriving early
Arriving early will not go un-noticedin most cases.
If you do arrive early find somewhere to relax
and re-read your application form. It will give
you time to check your appearance as well. While
it is useful to have your application/CV with
you it is not a good idea to have it in front
of you at the interview. It may give the impression
that you do not remember what you have said about
yourself.
Watch your body language
Posture, handshake, eye contact, smile. Be upbeat.
Employers latch on to negative messages, so don't
give them any.
* - Structure your thoughts, have confidence
and be honest. Think about each question carefully
and answer as best you can.
Be yourself
Don't be too nervous; your interviewer is only
human. Demonstrate your interest by having some
questions for them. This is your chance to learn
more about them.
Answer the question asked rather than the one
that you have practiced. Never give 'parrot fashion'
answers.
Cell phone should be off..!
And finally… Prepare for Rejection.
Off hand I can say you will be rejected more times
than accepted. Even if you don't get the job,
you can learn a huge amount about your perceived
market value. Remember - there's a job out there
for you somewhere
Good luck!
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