Interview Dos & Don’ts

27/07/2016

See our interview DOs and DON‘Ts for maximizing your chances of becoming the perfect candidate, so follow these steps to a successful interview.

Interview Dos
• Look your smartest – wear a suit and show your most professional side during the interview.
• Arrive in good time – allowing for any unforeseen delays. Obtain clear directions for the location of the interview and plan your journey ahead. If you are unavoidably delayed, notify the company immediately giving the reason and your estimated time of arrival.
• Introduce yourself courteously and express yourself clearly – you will be assessed from the moment you arrive.
• If you are being interviewed by more than one person, make sure you make eye contact with each of the individuals present – do not just focus your answers on the person asking the questions.
• Show tact, manners, courtesy and maturity at every opportunity. Be confident and maintain poise. The ability to handle your nerves during the interview will come across as confidence in your ability to handle the job.
• Be prepared to show how your experience would benefit the company.
• Ask questions concerning the company or products and the position for which you are being interviewed. An interviewer will be impressed by an eager and inquisitive mind. You will also be able to demonstrate that you can contribute to the company or industry if you show an interest in its products and/or services.
• Take time to think and construct your answers to questions to avoid rushing into a vague and senseless reply.
• Demonstrate that you are sufficiently motivated to get the job done well and that you will fit in with the company’s organisational structure and the team in which you will work.
• Show willingness to start at the bottom and work up.
• Anticipate questions you’re likely to be asked and have answers prepared in advance. Uncertainty and disorganisation show that you are unprepared and unclear what your goals are.
• Be assertive without being aggressive.
• Thank the interviewer.

Body Language Dos
• Ensure a firm handshake. A firm handshake shows confidence in yourself and your abilities.
• Walk slowly, deliberately and tall upon entering the room.
• Maintain a high level of eye contact (with all of those interviewing you) throughout.
• Remember not to be seen to be staring. Look away occasionally, looking confidently and calmly to the right or left; never look down.
• Listen.
• Be alert and enthusiastic – it’s often a deciding factor in employing candidates. An indifferent attitude is instantly recognised as “I don’t care if I get this job”.
• Smile, nod and give non-verbal feedback to the interviewer.
• Do not hurry any movement.
• Relax with every breath.

Interview Don’ts
• Be late for the interview. Tardiness is a sign of irresponsibility or disorganisation and the employer could take it as what to expect in the future.
• Arrive unprepared for the interview.
• Say unfavourable things about previous employers.
• Make excuses for failings.
• Give vague responses to questions.
• Show lack of career planning – no goals or purpose could convey the impression you’re merely shopping around or only want the job for a short time.
• Show too much concern about rapid advancement.
• Over-emphasise money. Your interviewing goal is to sell yourself to the interviewer and to get an offer of employment. Salary discussion is secondary.
• Refuse to travel and/or relocate. Always be open for discussion concerning travel and relocation. The employer may be talking about future plans, not present.
• Show any reservations you may have about the role/company. You can always turn down second interviews and job offers after you have had time to appraise your concerns in the cold light of day.
• Demonstrate low moral standards.
• Express prejudices, discrimination or any personal intolerance.
• Leave your mobile phone on during the interview.

Body Language Don’ts
• Have a poor/limp handshake.
• Display laziness.
• Be aggressive or act in a superior, conceited or overbearing way.
• Have a poor voice, diction or grammar.
• Look distracted, look down or avoid eye contact.