Bethan Evans, Work Coach from Aberdare Jobcentre, shares her favourite tips for that all important interview.
So, you’ve wooed the employer with a cracking CV, or a fantastic application form – great! Give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back!
Now, let’s talk about the interview:
How will you get there? How long will it take to get there? What will you wear? What paperwork should you take with you? Can you use your notes? These are all things you need to think about in advance.
When planning your travel always leave extra time, to allow for any unexpected delays. It’s also a good idea to have the interviewer’s contact number with you, just in case you need to call them.
Clothes: think smart, clean and professional, which means no jeans, no track suits and no trainers. It’s also advisable to keep jewellery and perfume minimal too. You want to be remembered for the right reasons.
Forms: it’s always a good idea to take a spare CV and application form with you. An interviewer may refer to your CV or application form and ask you more about it – they will expect you to have a copy to hand. This shows you’re prepared and have put a lot of thought and effort into the interview.
Don’t forget to take any other documents the employer may have asked you to bring with you, such as your passport or National Insurance Number.
Notes: glorious notes! Make them, revise them, and use them. Once you have been invited to interview, you should spend some time researching the company. Going into an interview, with a good knowledge of the company gives you confidence, and tells the employer that you are serious and passionate about a career with them. It will help you make your interview answers more relevant to the employer and should give you something appropriate to ask them at the end. Pay particular attention to the company’s history, what they do, any particular achievements they’re proud of, any current news or campaigns, and who their competitors are (if relevant). It’s best to make a short bulleted list that you can quickly glance at if you get stuck, rather than pages of scribbles!
While we’re talking about interview questions, why not try and find out what they’re likely to ask you? A quick internet search can bring up forums and discussion boards relating to other people’s interview experiences with the company. Getting an idea of what could be asked, can help calm those pre-interview nerves.
Practice makes perfect: so practice, practice, and practice! Ask your Work Coach for a mock interview, or simply rehearse your answers to common interview questions. This will prevent you from drawing a blank mid-interview. If you do find yourself a bit stuck for words, say something to the effect of ‘that’s a really interesting question, may I take a moment to think about that?’ This will give you some time to calm yourself and think about the answer.
Once you’ve done all this preparation just remember to be polite, friendly, smile and be yourself!
Good Luck!