Last week we showed you how to track down the perfect job for you, including different avenues you can use to find it. If you missed it, you can catch up here.

Once you’ve snagged the employer’s attention and bagged that interview, you’re well on your way to securing the job. Ensure you make a good impression by following our interview preparation tips.

 

 STAY ORGANISED
  1. Note down which roles you applied for and when to keep track, and also to enable you to chase them up later if needed.
  2. Utilise a diary or digital calendar to organise any interviews and meetings to ensure you don’t double-book. Having all your appointments written down also makes it easy to quickly see when you are available when arranging interviews.
BE HONEST
  1. Be upfront about your availability – unable to commit to certain days? Booked a holiday in the near future? Tell a recruiter as soon as they ask, it’s no good for them to find it out later.
  2. Stick to the facts when talking about your experience, and don’t lie about things you can’t do. If a prospective employer contacts your previous employer and questioned them, would they back up your statement? Lies get found out, and look a lot worse than simply stating you cannot do something. If you tell the truth, even if an employer decides you aren’t suitable for a role, they may have something else perfectly suited to you.
  3. Ensure you are open about your feelings – enthusiastic and ready to start? Or mulling over a few other offers on the table?
LOOK SMART
  1. Make a good first impression by dressing in clean, ironed business attire and ensuring your hair and nails are neat.
  2. It sounds simple but being presentable says a lot about you to an interviewer – right down to how shiny your shoes are.
RESEARCH
  1. Find out as much out about the company you can prior to the interview – use their website to research as well as their social media accounts.
  2. If you’re being interviewed by a high-profile person at the company, you could also find out a little about them beforehand – even something as small as getting their name right can work in your favour.
  3. Look up the location of the interview and make sure you know exactly where you are going to avoid getting lost or running into problems on the day.
  4. Prepare yourself to answer questions about why you want to work for the company – having a unique answer is great, but make sure it’s honest.
PAPERWORK

Organise all your required documents into one easily accessible place to ensure you don’t forget anything.

You will definitely need your Right To Work documents to hand (usually a Passport or Birth Certificate) but you may also need:

  • a paper copy of your CV
  • your most recent P45
  • copies of your qualifications
  • the details of your references
  • your current DBS (if working in a role which requires one)
MEET EXPECTATIONS
  1. Ensure you fulfil any requirements to the best of your ability, whether that may be preparing some sample work or delivering a presentation.
  2. Practice various answers to common interview questions beforehand to help you answer interviewers’ questions confidently.
Part 4 out now – click here to read

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