Job Interview Tips

Got my first job interview after finishing Uni next week

Any tips from those who have been successful in finding work after uni or from those who regularly interview/hire people?

 

Do your research on the company interviewing you.

Wear a nice suit with the top button done up and the tie done correctly. A half windsor perhaps?

Be prepared to discuss absolutely anything on your CV in far greater depth.

Know your strengths and weaknesses and be prepared to discuss them also.

 

Be as likeable as possible. It sounds stupid but obviously if the interviewer likes you, you'll stand a good chance. Put something in your covering letter/CV about your hobbies and mention football, hopefully the interviewer is a football fan and you can chat about the football (or another of your hobbies). Let your personality shine through and don't be sitting there nervous like the other chumps.


One of my very first interviews out of college was at a school (as an IT technician), I didn't have any experience but the guy interviewing me said that I was enthusiastic and he would of hired me on the spot if I had any experience. He kindly organised me 1 month work experience at an affiliated school, who promptly offered me a full-time job 2 weeks in. Paid better than the original job as well!

 

Loyalty or what?

 

My top tip - do all the research, have a great C.V, wear smart clothing, be confident etc - but above all, try to be related to or really good mates with the person who owns the company. Failing that, the general manager or at least the person interviewing you.

If all else fails, be a devastatingly beautiful woman.

 

Assuming you'd be part of a team it's always good if you have hobbies that involve others ...for them there's nothing worse than a shrinking violet that shuns their colleagues.

 

Have a look at a few basic body language tip online, little things can make you look confident even when you don't feel it!

 

Is it an assessement centre or just an interview?

 

Luckily the job is football based so I'd presume being a football fan would help in that aspect! Says so in the job description

I will be e-mailed more information tomorrow about it

 

Be yourself, be positive, be enthusiastic.

 

Don't tell them funny stories, save them for later interviews .... and if you do they'd better be really funny!

 

Be punctual, taking no chances that the bus doesn't turn up, etc, just get there early.

Dress appropriately for the job, but don't risk being underdressed. But if not sure, you will not go far wrong with a suit, smart short and tie.

Many employers do a little research on individual candidates on social media before interviewing. So if you are active on Facebook, etc, ensure that there are no comments that show you in a negative light. Such as "Got an interview tomorrow, not really bothered about it, but it will be good interview practice" (which I have personally come across).

As others have said, research the company as much as you can. Prepare some questions, even if you know the answer already, but ask what happens with the next stage, timescales, etc.

Interviews invariably require discussing your good and bad points. Tiresome, but if you have a bad point, try and turn it into a good point. "I get a bit uncomfortable if I look like missing a deadline, I just get annoyed with myself if I am late with something".

Be smiley and friendly with the receptionists/secretary, etc. the interviewer often asks for their opinion, and if you have been pleasant, positive about the environment, building, people, maybe asking positive questions, it will normally generate positive feedback for you.

Best of luck!

 

Be on time

Make sure you have your facts about the company right, look in indeed to see what people say about working there.

Make sure you make yourself interesting, don't just say I like socialising with my friends and playing games on the internet. Any societies that you took part in at uni, any charities you have helped, DoE are all winners and make you sound more employable.

Make sure you have at least three pre prepared questions, not about pay, holiday etc. Questions about the job, your opportunities etc. Someone once asked me why how I came about working for the company and what I enjoy about working there. Good question. Only ask two though

 

Thanks,

The job says it is a competitive salary depending on experience, if I am asked how much i would be expecting to be paid, is there a right or wrong answer?

 

I'd be surprised if salary is discussed at the first interview. If they ask you what you;re looking for and you say a figure far lower than they're offering they'll screw you over. I usually use flannel like "a level comensurate with the position. I'm looking for experience and to learn, the salary is not my most important driver at the moment but am looking for solid career progression".

Plan your journey to get there an hour early. Find a coffee shop and compose your self before hand. Actually get there 5 mins early be overly polite to reception, introduce your self and be clear who is intervieing you. I've actually not hired someone who was pretty rude to my receptionist.

Clean up your facebook & twitter, or make them invisible for the time being.

Don't stress over it and be yourself. If you need to be someone else in the interview to get the job then the job is not right for you. A first interview is all about seeing if you'll fit in. They will have determined if you've got the qualifications. Shirt Tiem smart polished shoes and suit trousers. No need for a jacket these days.

If they ask you ****ty questions like how many mobile phones there are in the world. Stop, think and wonder why they're asking the question before answering. or blurting out the first thing that comes into your head. It's a ****e type of question designed to see how you think and rationalize.

Any gaps in your employment or education history need to be excused. What you did why you left etc.

Enjoy it and good luck. If nothing else it'll give you interview experience.

 

You'll probably have no choice if it's your first job but if they ask just say you'd expect your salary to grow alongside your experience. Find out what others pay for similar if you can because there's no point settling for peanuts if you don't need to.

 

job interviews are easy.

be charming, talk about specific skills learnt and achievements achieved from your past job/experiences and then tell them explicitly how you think you will be able to apply that to the job in hand (don't rely on them to connect the dots for you).

on the rare occasions you have to talk about negative things (biggest weaknesses, biggest failures e.t.c) be honest and give a proper answer, but always end it with what you learned and how you're trying to fix it with demonstrable examples if possible.

infact, as a general guide to any question answer with A) the answer B) and example of this happening C) how you think it applies to their company moving forward D) a question from you to the girl about her thoughts

 

Not always possible, but try to line up a truck load of interviews for similar roles over a 4 week period. Interviews are a learnable skill like any other at graduate level and can be carbon copied to a significant extent. When I applied for accountancy firms I was tinned by the first 3 places I went to but had 10 consecutive job offers after that. Same with banking a few years later. Once you learn to play the game you'll win again and again. We are going back many years here but off the top of my head:

1) There are some nailed on questions so you can pre-prepare. This is important as it massively takes the pressure off you when you have an answer off to a tee as it effectively gives you down time during the interview. Needs to look spontaneous so practice it in the mirror like Talented Mr Ripley. Stuff like: Why did you pick your degree. What parts of your degree did you enjoy. Tell me when you worked in a team. Why does this career/industry attract you. How does it suit your skills. Blah. Blah. Blah. These will come up every time.
2) Learn some stuff specific to the company just to ask a few questions at the end. Can also be generic though if you get stuck. What are the company's plans for the next year. Ask about their competitors.
3) Maintain a lot of eye contact, but don't look like a psycho.
4) Don't be afraid to say you don't know if you get bowled a Jaffa. Lack of experience is excusable. Making stuff up isn't.
5) If you're in a group exercise 30% of your rivals will invariably be complete idiots. Let them hog the limelight for 5 minutes and argue and then step in with a single sensible suggestion. They will almost certainly agree with you as they'll be focused on each other and you'll look like an absolute boss and the HR drones will nod sagely and put a tick next to your name.

 

I echo this. I was a school leaver and had my first interview in the city at an investment bank (If it's like the square mile, find out exactly where the building is, as I got lost and had to sprint to the interview). The interviewer was well known in the investment industry and really liked my enthusiasm and drive, but alas rejected me for the vacancy I was going for - but sent me a nice letter saying that he'd be more than happy to pass my CV onto his contacts. I called up his PA and thanked him for his offer and said i'd be most grateful for any help that he could provide. Out of nowhere I get a call saying "My names so and so, can you start Monday?" It was in the same building as the other job, but for a different company he was on the board of. I was puzzled as to why he'd hire me for one company and not the other, but I later found out the other role was quite admin based, and he thought i'd be wasted doing it, but also wanted to test my enthusiasm and see if I got back to him. Turns out the role I got was higher paid than the previous one I went for, and that set me off on my career.

One question I like to throw in at the end is "Do you have any doubts about me going for this role?" - That way it opens the interviewer up to ask questions about what's been discussed, and also shows that you're keen to get the role. It's a good one for clarity to. A smile and manners goes a long way as well. One role I hit it off with the receptionist and had a good chat. Found out she was going on maternity leave very soon, so on my way out in front of the interviewer, I walked up to the receptionist and said "It was a pleasure meeting you, I just want to wish you all the best with the newborn" - I got the role and the receptionist was still there when I started. Apparently none of the other candidates even tried talking to the receptionist and it showed me to be a people person which impressed the interviewer - Also as no one else made the effort, I stood out. That's the main thing, think of things that will make them remember you.

Good luck.

 

Oh, and the tactic of getting your mates to apply for the same job and "Setting the bar low" doesn't work either. One mate was really struggling to get work, so I applied for the same job as him in hope that i'll be interviewed before him. It worked. I went to the interview, and really tried setting the bar low. Without being a complete **** that they'd disregard, I just gave crap answers like "The salary isn't ideal in truth, but it'll do", "The role seems a little simple and would suit someone of lesser experience", "I tend to keep myself to myself as previously colleagues have really annoyed me", "I left school after GCSEs as I was fed up with education", "My weaknesses are communicating with others, time keeping, organisation, and trying to turn the PC on".

I actually got offered the job over my friend.

 

Bang on, I once made a mistake answering a technical question which I wasn't sure of. I didn't get the job.

I would add...

Your eyes are everything, if there's a window, don't look out of it. If you are recalling something from experience your eyes tend to look upwards, so if you get asked something tricky don't look downwards it implies whatever you're saying you're making up.
As someone said earlier, be careful about what you have on Facebook/Twitter. However you may be able to use it to your advantage, if you know the name of the interviewer look them up and see whether you have anything in common with them, if so then should the situation arise in the interview start talking about that common interest (without saying you've looked him up obviously), what that would achieve is engaging with the interviewer in a positive light.

 

Not an interview but in my twenties I fixed a site agents golf slice after overhearing a conversation and I got tons of work from his company after that ... he mistakenly told someone I was a scratch golfer (I'm nowhere near) and I had all sorts inviting me for a game, architects, company directors, you name it ... Needless to say I was always too busy.

 

my questions are normally:

What do you know about this company
What do you know about the role
Why should you get this job
What your key strengths
What are your key weaknesses
What do you enjoy doing

It always amazes me how many candidates know nothing about the role or the company they are interviewing at

As others have said, lock down your social media. It's highly likely they will look and any pictures of you consuming huge quantities of alcohol may affect their thoughts on you

Also try and find out the name of the person that's interviewing you. Try and find some info on them - maybe a paper they wrote or their hobbies and introduce if possible

Most importantly be confident with a strong hand shake from the minute the interview starts. Most interviewers make up their mind on a candidate in the first few minutes

Good luck

 

Try and turn the interview into more of a conversation by asking plenty of intelligent questions. That way you avoid awkward silences and, if you're clever, turn the interviewer into the interviewee without him/her realising.

 

You need to seduce the interviewer. Make every answer a suggestive pun. Lick your lips a lot and divert attention to your groin. The interview and the job questions are all a facade. This is a sex game

 

"One question I like to throw in at the end is "Do you have any doubts about me going for this role?" "

"Try and turn the interview into more of a conversation by asking plenty of intelligent questions"

Both of these will be good in the right circumstances but one word of warning - the interviewer is often nervous as well, especially if it's someone who hasn't done many before. They will have a set plan for their interview and and it is imperative that they come out of the interview feeling good not only about you, but also about themselves. Things that make them potentially lose control of the flow of the interview (asking too many questions in the middle) or put them in a potentially awkward spot (effectively asking them for feedback face to face at end of interview) in my opinion might lead to them being uncomfortable.

I think to use both of the above suggestions it needs to be an experienced person interviewing you.

 

Follow these tips and you can't go wrong

http://www.thepoke.co.uk/2013/05/31/20-invaluable-job-interview-tips/

1. When asked what your weaknesses are, say Ryan Gosling. It’ll break the ice. Then say ‘persistent lateness’ or something.

2. Bring a box to the interview, point at it and say “I do all my thinking outside of that.” Then open some champagne.

3. Tattoo your limitations down one arm. Interviewers admire honesty.

4. When asked if you want anything to drink, say “Just a glass of job please!” Then laugh for 15 minutes. No less.

5. When shown to the interview room, walk further up the corridor & say “I always go the extra mile!” Then click your heels.

6. Show you give 110% by pouring 10% too much water into your glass. Smile knowingly.

7. Wear a sock puppet on one hand, make it whisper in your ear and say “What’s that, Mr Wuzzles? I seem ideal for the job?”

sockpuppet

8. Loosen your tie as you enter & say “Phew! Is it me or did it get 100% more dynamic in here?” Then reverse high five them.

9. When they ask if you got here all right, reply “I always succeed in getting to where I’m going” then punch a nearby door.

10. Tell them you won’t need a lunch hour because you’re powered by results. Then make a powerboat noise for about 8 minutes.

11. Unbutton your shirt to reveal a Superman ‘S’ & say “Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s increased productivity!”

superman

12. Dress as an American footballer to show you’re a team player. And have ‘Sustained Growth’ written on your football.

13. Say “I hope to become part of the furniture here.” Then crouch into a ball pretending to be a pouffe & never move again.

14. Show you’re a fast learner by wearing an L plate round your neck & a Usain Bolt face-mask. Don’t speak. They’ll get it.

15. If they extend their hand for you to shake, enclose it in your hands and say “Look! A hand-sandwich! I need this job.

16. When asked where you see yourself in 5 years, say “owner of a B&B for cats” and tap your nose like you know the market.

17. Produce 2 cans of Dr Pepper & push one over to your interviewer. Then break open yours & say to them “Virgo. Am I right?”

18. Give your interviewer a hollow pork pie. Then lean back and say “That’s your company – I’m your pork.”

19. Hire a billboard across the road from the interview room that shows you wrestling a bear. Point to it occasionally.

20. When asked if YOU have a question say “Where do you see YOURSELF in 5 years’ time, nosey?” Laugh. Pass around some mints

 

Agreed. I don't think either is a particularly wise move if you're inexperienced at being interviewed.

 

Got an interview for some part time work at a Supermarket in an hour or so. Let's say I get this job but then get offered the one on Tuesday, how should I go about taking the second?

 

Just don't mention the supermarket to them.

 

Supermarket effectively offered me the job today at the end of the interview. My induction will be in a couple of weeks if I accept. Gives me plenty of time to take this other interview on Tuesday which is essentially a dream job

 

Accept it, and if you get the other job just ring them up and say you've received a career offer and thank them. Also you can go in to the interview next week knowing that although it's only a supermarket job, at least you have something to fall back on to.

 

Not knowing the jobs you're after I will still warn you over retail jobs, particularly supermarkets. They may tell you there's room to progress but in reality it stops at team leader where you will be expected to do the job of a department manager (on their days off) without the benefit of a decent salary. Once you're good enough they will try to oust the manager to another department or out of the company altogether and leave you in their place ... Hey presto! they then have managers working for peanuts.

My wife is a dept manager for a supermarket, it is a very real threat.

 

Only part time at the supermarket while I find a career. The one on Tuesday is related to my degree and my previous work experience etc

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

Do not call them "son" or "young master" even if, as is often the case, they're half your age.

That has not gone well for me in past interviews.