Do's and Don't of
Interviews
What to do:
- Dress smartly, look bright and attentive, and speak clearly and confidently. Don't forget that in the first few minutes only 7% of the interviewer's opinion of you is formed by what you say - the rest is judged on how you look, act and sound
- Find out where the venue is beforehand, how to get there and how long it takes
- Get your dress ready the night before
- Find out what kind of interview it will be so you can prepare (oral, practical, questionnaire, role plays etc)
- Examine the person specification and your CV/application form, and think about what type of questions they will ask you
- Prepare answers for the main questions - for example, tell me about yourself, why do you want the job, what are your strengths and weaknesses, what are the main tasks in this job?
- Make about three or four points in each answer
- Quote real examples of when you've used certain skills - just saying you've got a skill isn't enough
- Take your time when answering the questions: make sure you understand the question and take your time if you need to think
- Sell yourself: no one else is going to! Be positive about yourself and your experiences
- Prepare some questions to ask at the end of the interview - use it as an opportunity to find out more about the role and the company. (Don't ask about money or perks just yet!)
- When discussing salary, know your market worth and start by quoting a little higher than this
- Get feedback on your performance, whether you were successful or not
- Turn off your mobile phone: treat the interviewers with respect and give them your undivided attention
- Keep your answers focused on what you can do for the employer, not what they can do for you
What not to
do:
- Don't be late
- Don't swear or use slang words
- Don't slouch in your seat or do anything that makes you look uninterested
- Don't smoke
- Don’t lie: the interviewer may see through you. Even if you get the job, your employer can dismiss you if they find out that you have not been honest
- Don’t let your nerves show too much; a few nerves are normal but extreme nerves will affect your performance. Use breathing techniques and try to remember that it's not a life and death situation - there are plenty of jobs out there!
- Don’t be arrogant and assume you've got the job. Nothing turns off employers more than someone who is disrespectful and over-confident
- Don't discuss controversial topics such as religion, politics and gender relations
- Don't read from notes or your CV — you should be familiar enough with your own history to be able to talk about it unprompted
- Don’t criticize former employers or colleagues. Interviewers may mark you down as a troublemaker and a gossip
- Don’t argue with the interviewer, no matter what. Remember to keep things positive!
Love / Danish
