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Preparing for Job Interviews

Before Interview

Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early. This gives you time:

to gather your thoughts
to check your appearance
to ensure you are at the right address

Introduce yourself to the receptionist. Remember, their assessment of you starts as soon as you enter their premises. You must always be polite and friendly.

You should give to the receptionist:

your name and the time of your appointment
the name of the person going to interview. If you don’t know it, ask the receptionist!

Thank the receptionist, wait quietly and:

be careful how and where you sit
be ready for the interviewer

Greet the interviewer

The interview has now started so make a good impression. Be ready to shake hands and introduce yourself.

You must:

be alert and quick to respond to the interviewer
be mindful of your smile, your handshake and how you move

Enter the interviewer's office and:

Do not sit down until you have been invited to do so
if you have a choice, sit about an arms length from the interviewer’s desk

Watch the way you sit and be careful of your posture:

do not lean on the desk or on the arms of the chair
sit up straight, don’t slouch, don’t lean back and don’t fold your arms
do not put anything on the interviewer’s desk until it is ‘tabled’
remember to keep smiling and be friendly
avoid nervous habits
do not play with your fingernails
keep your hands off your ears, hair, beard and collar
do not play with your jewellery
never tap your fingers or feet on anything

Remember, once you are in there and the interview proper has started:

volunteer positive information only – never anything negative
stress your good points eg skills, qualities, experiences.
do not talk about what you cannot do or what training you need
answer the interviewer’s questions as you have rehearsed

Do not smoke, even if you are invited to. Don’t chew lollies, chewing gum. Only accept a glass of water or a cup of tea or coffee if the interviewer is having one.

At the end of the interview

be ready to ask suitable questions
summarise your qualifications and suggest that the interviewer contacts your referees
tell that you are very interested in the job
if the interviewer offers you the job accept it then and there
thank them for the interview and don’t ramble on

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