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An interview is always a nerve racking experience - at least it should be! Nerves in the right dose are good for you as they show that you respect the situation and allow you not to be over confident or arrogant, which is never a good thing. At the same time, try not to be overly nervous as this will have a negative outcome to your interview, but a good interviewer should put you at ease rather than trying to intimidate you, so try and be calm and enjoy it - after all, it's a good opportunity to talk about yourself!
It's imperative that you prepare for any interview so first of all make sure that you know your CV as you don't want to be asked a question about your experience which you can't remember . Take a couple of copies of your CV with you in case the interviewer can't find theirs and then you also have one for reference.
Make sure you know where you're going, you should have been given the full address and ideally a map but if you're unsure, then try to do a practice journey a few days before so that you're not worrying about the journey on the day. Ensure you leave plenty of time because being late for an interview is not a good start, but if you are running late due to circumstances outside of your control, then don't panic, call your recruitment consultant who can call the company ahead for you.
Make sure you've had a good look and read of the company's website if they have one. One of the most common questions asked at an interview is 'what do you know about us' and if you haven't done your research then it may count against you.
As well as being asked about your relevant knowledge and experience, you'll no doubt face some more general questions in interviews. So here are some common questions to think about beforehand:
* Tell me about a project you've worked on and any problems you encountered.
* How did you solve these problems?
* Give me an example of when you have worked as part of a team.
* How do you cope with pressure and deadlines?
* What are your strengths and weaknesses?
* Why do you want to work here?
* How would other people describe you?
* Do you have any questions?
Try practising your answers with a friend - or at least out loud - beforehand. The preparation will really show.
Remember to prepare some questions for the interviewer. They might be about the job itself, or broader issues about the company and their plans for the future. Try to avoid asking questions about the salary or holiday as your recruitment consultant should handle these for you at a later date.
Unless you've been told otherwise, always wear a suit to an interview and ensure your shoes are clean and your shirt is ironed - it's imperative to give a good impression at this early stage. A good firm handshake is also very important as is the ability to keep eye contact so avoid looking around the room when talking to your interviewer. Remember to switch your mobile phone off before you enter the building as it would be embarassing if your phone starts ringing in the interview - especially if you have an inappropriate ringtone!
At the end of the interview, shake your interviewer's hand and thank them for their time and tell them that you hope you have impressed them.
Finally, good luck and don't forget to call your agency straight after the interview - the longer you leave it, the less keen you look and a lack of enthusiasm could easily cost you the job.
Don't forget to follow us at http://twitter.com/RecruitAbility because if we find you a new job, we will congratulate you online so you can show all your friends and family how well you've done.
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