DO NOT stick a pencil up the interviewers nose, it WILL NOT be appreciated! (Interview Tips & Advice)

Member Name: Judgee

Product:	Interview Tips & Advice
Date:	17/06/02 (266 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Money, Self worth

Disadvantages: Boredom

Well, I guess I have been quite lucky when it comes to interviews. From my early teens I seemed to say and do the right things to get the job. Of course, having qualifications and experience can do you no harm but often it is the impression that you give in an interview that really counts. As far as qualifications go, I dropped out of A-Levels to pursue "other" interests, but even hiccups such as this can be turned to your advantage. Here's a few of my own personal tips to succeed in getting that job you so desperately desire. Hopefully they may be of help to somone?


Get that interview - First off you need to get a personal interview. To do so you must first fill in an application form. In doing so you must be truthful at all times, but bare in mind some information can be "Polished" in your favour. Breaks in your employment can be covered up by stretching the dates from one job to another. Work records can look suspicious if you tend to take a nice long two month break between jobs. So, make the dates run consecutively and round them to the nearest month ie job one, December 98 to September 01, job two, September 01 to present. This will avoid any unnecessary questions and just makes the whole thing look neater. Try and include a good, clean, tidy curriculum vitae (You should always keep an up to date copy to hand!) when returning an application form. If your references are a bit out of date, put details of your most recent ones on your CV but also attach copies of any personal ones you have obtained in the past. Interviewers will read them out of curiosity if nothing else and as long as they are good, make you look that little bit better and more worthy of interview time.


Preparation prior to interrogation - So you have the interview date, what to do next. Firstly (and I guess obviously!) Make sure you know when it is. Note the date in your diary and on calenders, clear your schedule, put off that golf game or
trip to the beach and keep a day totally free for the interview AND for the day before the interview. I find that having a clear day before an interview helps you to focus on what you need to do. In this free day, take some time to check out the timetable of the trains or buses. Take a trip to your place of interview if you can and see how long it takes. If travelling by car, note any road works that might slow you down and look for a good place to park. Depending on the job, try and do some research in to the company you are looking to join. Being able to throw some company knowledge or facts back at the interviewer will make you look enthusiastic and informed. Line up everything that you will need for the interview, the night before ie Change for parking/fares, watch, map, keys, clothes (and make sure they are clean and still fit properly!) Make sure you set your alarm correctly and ask a friend or relative to give you a wake up call if possible, you cannot be too careful in this area. If you turn up late for an interview you may as well not turn up at all!


The big day - Hopefully you have given yourself enough time in the morning to get ready. Take your time, you should look clean and presentable for most jobs and particularly smart for office positions. Make sure you leave an extra half an hour earlier than you feel necessary, trains are delayed and cars break down. If either of these events happen to you, phone the place of the interview BEFORE you are late. The interviewers are mostly human and will give credit for this as it shows you left early to try and cover any problems and that you are still keen. Phoning them up half an hour late to tell them so will not go down well, so I will say it again, LEAVE EARLY! If everything goes well and you do turn up with half an hour to spare, use the time to smarten up in the bathroom or read up some more on the company.


The interrogation - When called for your interview, enter the room with
confidence and shake the hands of the interviewer(s) firmly. Only sit down when advised to do so by the interviewer. Refuse any beverages as these have a nasty habbit of spilling at the wrong moment! Sit up straight (do not slouch) Hands should be placed on you lap or on arm rests. Do not fold your arms as this comes across as defensive, making you look nervous, secretive or aggressive. (All negative things under the circumstances!) Legs should be placed on the ground in front of you. Do not put you feet up on the desk as the interviewer will not be impressed. When answering the interviewer, try to keep reasonable eye contact as it shows you are paying attention. If this seems a bit intimidating, look at their eyebrows to at least give the impression of eye contact. Keep your answers truthful but positive. You will often get asked why you left your previous employment. Say that you were looking for somewhere with more room for advancement or promotional opportunities. Tempting as it may be, do not say that your previous boss was a twat and the coffee tasted like donkey sweat. DEFINITELY do not mention money! Saying that you left your previous position to gain a better salary is a no no. As is asking about the salary at your interview unless the interviewer mentions it first. This could make you seem money orientated and you should at least give the impression that you want the job because it will be fulfilling in some way! (alright so we all no you want the money but it just goes down badly, trust me!) Always ask questions at the end of an interview. This shows once more that you are interested in the company and will help you to stick in the mind of the interviewer. Ask about the long term ambitions of the company, that always goes down well!


Well, I hope these few little hints have not been too boring. The reason that this is on my mind at present is that in a few hours I start a new job! I haven?t worked for anybody else for over four years, choos
ing to work self employed. However, the time has come to start a "proper" job as my girlfriend keeps telling me! Do my interview techniques work? Well it is the first job that I have applied for in all this time and I got it (I have been offered 99 percent of the jobs I've applied for!)! So I'll let you decide! For those still looking, happy hunting and don't worry, there?s a place for everybody in the working world, you just have to find it! (you can have mine if you like, I'd rather stay in bed!)



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