Interview tips

SapphireStar

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Okay, I finally got an interview fro this week.

Im so happy, and yet I hate doing interviews due to my nerves.


Can anyone give any tips or advice to help me keep calm and get this job???


Thanks :highfive:
 
Is the interview at the same place where you currently work, just a different position? Or is it somewhere completely different?

Anyways, I've only had 3 jobs in my life and the latest interview I had was about 4 months ago for my current job.

The best advice I can give you is to always smile and seem genuinely happy that you have this interview. It shows them you're keen!

I kept calm by simply treating the interview as if I were having a conversation with someone I'd never met before. XD Not someone who was going to decide my future for me. It just made me nervous to think like that. I found that I was more calm when I thought of them as a long lost friend or something like that.

I tried not to think of it too seriously. I mean it is serious, just don't think too much into it or you just get muddled and find that you can't even string together a few words.

Take your time when answering questions. Don't try to rush it all out and if you stutter or stumble, just breath and continue on without making a big scene over stuffing up a sentence.

This assures them that you're confident and aren't phased by such petty things.

If they ask a question and you're not quite sure what they mean, don't pretend to understand, ask them exactly what they mean and to rephrase if need be.

This will show that you are willing to do things correctly and won't arse up their business if they hire you.

These are just some of the things I can really think of that helped me.

I had about 2-3 interviews with my current employer and he mentioned that I stood out because of those reasons. =)

GOOD LUCK WITH THE INTERVIEW!!!
 
Act calm and collective and act better than them. Either that or act like you don't care about the interview. Most people try way to hard in interviews, my typical thing is I just talk to them like they were my friend. If they try to get corporate on my ass I try to lighten the mood. No offense, but I wouldn't want to get hired because I was an uptight jack ass. It's all about your personality basically in an interview, and be honest.
 
I'd also recommend reading up on what the company/organisation does. Work out what would be required of you (e.g. customer care - you'd state any experience in that area, or your confidence in dealing with customers) to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role - it also dictates your work ethic too, to a limit extent.

Seriously, knowing your stuff makes everything so much easier. If you're finding it hard to find any readable content on the place, try going there and arranging a pre-interview meeting with the manager/owner. It'll make you more comfortable in that setting, and if he/she is your interviewer, you'll feel far more relaxed when in the pressuring environment of an interview room.

Annnd depending on what you're applying for, dress appropriately. People try to say "wear suits!" and such, but sometimes it just makes you look like you're trying too hard. Dress as smart as possible, without going overboard.

Additionally, you may want to make some notes for your interview. Brief bullet points for what you might respond with to a certain type of question, or simply to help you state certain strengths about yourself that you may otherwise forget (helps to notify them of this at the start of the interview too; it's polite).

Finally: prepare questions for them. You'll only need one or two, but it further demonstrates your interest in the position/place of work. Try to avoid asking about pay though. :wacky:



Good luck! Get what you need sorted, and you'll do fine. =]
 
Congrats on landing an interview Mariella! Ok, I'll give you some questions that will probably be asked in the interview.
1. What are your strengths?
2. What are your weaknesses? (and don't say nothing, lol)
3. Why do you want this position?
4. Why do you want to work in <insert location>?
5. What was your proudest professional accomplishment?
6. What can you bring to the table that other canidates can't?

I feel that being prepared to answer these questions will take you a long way and you won't feel as nervous because they're not impromptu. Make sure to ask them questions as well, about the position, maybe the learning curve of the job etc.

Best of luck, hope it works out for ya!
 
You definitely need to be prepared and presentable.

Make the effort with your appearance. Wear a suit. Clean the shoes etc. Be professional.

Be prepared as well. Remember that purpose of an interview is mostly to see if you can fit in with the work environment. They're going to be looking for your planning skills, your communication skills and depending on the type of job you're applying for - your technical skills.

Most interviewers know that the interviewee will be nervous, and it's not their intention to frighten you or to make you even more nervous. Most will have a small conversation and ask you about your hobbies and interests etc. from your CV. This is to make you more comfortable in your surroundings and ease up a bit more.

Try and be mindful of your body language. Use your hands to talk if you usually do. Try and appear to be animated. Try and not rub your hands together or fiddle with your hands - It shows nervousness and it will make you even more nervous. Try and just sit upright and be yourself.

As for questions Blakstang has a good range of questions there. Know the answers to those questions in your mind. For your weakness, always try and finish on an upbeat note. e.g. "An initial weakness I encountered in my previous job was my time management. When I was initially assigned a new task to complete it took me some time to understand what was required of me. However, through my experience of working with this type of work, I began to manage my time better" or something similar to that extent. Give a weakness, but also show/say how you have or plan to overcome it.

Know your previous work experience. Be able to recall scenarios where you dealt with difficult customers, or difficult situations, or an example as to how you changed someone's opinion to agree with yours (i've been asked this one before. I used an example where i disagreed with a manager's suggestion and how I thought things through and explained things rationally and logically). etc. Know these stories and be able to recall them.

Also know your CV inside out. That's where they're going to ask most of the questions from!

All it takes is a bit of planning, and by planning these questions and scenarios (even writing them down). It will be very beneficial for you. you'll feel a lot more comfortable and confident (you know your strengths and your capabilities, and you'll know what to bring to the company).

Try and have an upbeat and friendly attitude and you should do well.

Best of luck.
 
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