about 7 years ago
Here is some advice from TRP on interviews. Everyone has nerves at the thought of going to an interview but hopefully our tips will help you prepare for the big day.
You’ve applied for countless jobs out and then you get the much-anticipated email that summons you to interview. Congratulations! That’s already a great step forward in the process, however, it’s important not to be complacent: to really impress during the interview you need to prepare as much as you can.
Make sure you know where your interview is taking place and how long it will take to get there.
Always check travel delays on the morning as you do not want to be late!
You need to know as much about the company as possible. Familiarise yourself with all the information on the website, and if possible, ask anyone you know who might work there.
Check the news – has the company appeared in any headlines recently? You want to thoroughly understand the company and its standpoint.
Think about which questions you are most likely to get asked. Many interviews follow a similar structure: ‘Tell me about yourself’ is a classic opening line, whilst ‘Have you got anything you’d like to ask us?’ is a frequent closing question.
Have some examples ready to help you answer questions, for example, times when you’ve had to work in a team, overcome pressure or meet a tight deadline
Prepare your answers and think about a few key examples that you can use to highlight your achievements and strengths.
Write down your answers as this will help you memorise them.
Ask lots of questions. The interview is a chance to find out about the job and the company, so prepare lots of questions. It shows you’re really interested.
You need to be aware of who is going to be interviewing you. Try to find out more about their position and their background.
It may seem obvious, but do remember their name: if you feel nervous on the day, you don’t want to find yourself in any awkward situations.
Dress the part! It may seem obvious but you will need to look the part, find out the culture of the workplace , and tailor your outfit to fit.
SMILE! All potential employers like a friendly face and enthusiasm.