Interview Tips

If you have been lucky enough to be selected for interview you need to make a personal impression.

This means in your own personal presentation as well as doing some research to show you are keen and have shown interest in the company.

Body language can also indicate the level of your interest in the role you are being interviewed for. If you appear very alert, interested and animated whilst the discussion centres around what you have done, your achievements, what you enjoy, what you want etc and then lose all interest and display appalling listening skills when the interviewer goes on to talk about the company, the role, their needs, etc. then this shows that you can be self-centred.

Therefore, interviewers may assess your body language at this point of an interview and is often a good guide as to whether or not you are really interested in the job. Body language can also assess how you would behave in the role in question and how you would be perceived by your peers and customers, both internal and external.

Therefore, you can also tell how the interview is going by observing the body language of the interviewer and if you are smart can adjust your presentation if you feel it is not going so well.

Some useful tips for a good, and hopefully successful, interview are:

1. Find out about the Company by doing research on its history, mission statement, financial accounts, company brochures, company website.
2. Ensure you know where you are going and allow time for any delays that might occur. Arrive early as this allows you time to relax and gather your thoughts.
3. Use a firm handshake, as a ‘limp handshake’ can affect what follows.
   Be attentive, don’t stare out of the window or fidget and maintain good eye contact
4. Use positive body language, ie using an open posture, smile, speak clearly and speak carefully and listen to what is being said and asked
   Be positive about previous or current employers and don’t divulge confidential information
5. Always ensure you have one or two prepared questions to ask and ask them at the end if they have not been covered in the interview
6. Also, if they haven’t told you when to expect an outcome, then take the opportunity to ask them this
7. Always leave positively, smiling and shaking hands and thank them for taking the time to meet with you and to contact you if they need any further information.

Lynn Tulip is Principal Consultant of ASSESSMENT4POTENTIAL a specialist HR and career management consultancy. Tel: 07801 689801 Website: www.assessment4potential.com You can follow Lynn on twitter – http://twitter.com/A4P_HR