Interviews

Land that job

So you’ve completed your application and you've bagged an interview. So what now?

The interview is an opportunity for both the company and you to evaluate whether you are a good fit for the job so expect questions relating to your ability, work history, future goals, and whether you fit the company culture. This section is dedicated to every bit of advice we can give you to set you up for that interview.

Before you go: do your research

Do your research on the company. Take a look at their website, check out their ‘about us’ section, their products or services and latest news or even their twitter account to get a good feel for the organisation.

 

Visit the business. Go one step further – can you visit? This is obviously much easier if it’s a shop or a public building. By doing this though you’ll get a better feel for the product and can even eavesdrop on the staff to see how they react to customers.

Read the person specification or job description. Make sure you understand the role you’re applying for and think about questions they could ask you that will help them understand whether you have the experience they need.

Rehearse some interview questions (check out some of our dummy questions here), plan your answers and read them out loud. If you can, maybe test them in front of someone you trust and see what they think.

Plan your route and know where you’re going. You don’t want any last minute stress when you find out you can’t find the street or the office or you didn’t leave yourself enough time to get there.

Getting ready

Plan what you’re going to wear in advance. Choose something that looks the part but still makes you feel comfortable.

Make sure that your outfit is clean and washed and if you need to, give it an iron the day before and hang it up ready for the next day.

Have a few questions up your sleeve to ask the panel at the end of the interview. Check out our list of practice questions.

You're there!

Give examples with our answers. Don't just say that you can do something but explain when and how you did a task or used a particular skill. 

Turn off your mobile at the door. Give your interviewers your undivided attention and don’t be tempted to check your phone even when you’re waiting to be seen.

Take your time and don’t rush into answering a question. If you need to think about something, just tell the interviewer that you just need a moment to think.

Be positive. You have as much chance as any of the other candidates so be positive and really sell yourself! Try to sit up straight and make good eye contact.

Don’t be tempted to tell a lie or exaggerate! The interviewer may catch you out or even worse, find out after you get the job and dismiss you.

Be confident but try not to be arrogant. Nothing turns off employers more than someone who is disrespectful and over-confident.

Afterwards

If you don’t get the job, don’t take it personally and keep going. Ask for feedback from the recruiter – this may give you some useful information which will help you in your next job. You can also drop into the careers service at any time and we’ll provide you with advice and feedback too.

Planning for an interview? Why not book an appointment with one of our Careers Advisers?

Get in touch

Useful links

Skype interviews

Skype interviews

Nowadays it's becoming more common to be interviewed by video or skype. This article from The Guardian shows you how ...