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Pre-interview Preparation

The first step towards any successful interview is the preparation.

• Research the company and its departments - this will improve your presentation and ensure that you sound confident, organised and motivated. The interviewers will be impressed by your knowledge and the effort you’ve put into your preparation .
• Be sure you know how to get to your interview, and leave plenty of time in which to do it.
• Read the job advertisement or web posting thoroughly and carefully. Be clear about how you meet the criteria asked for, especially when it comes to responsibilities you’ve had and any other abilities that make you a particularly good candidate.
• Study the job description, which outlines in detail the content and duties of the job and the qualities expected of the successful applicant.

The Interview

• Try not to be late, allow yourself plenty of time in case you get lost.
• First impressions count, so dress appropriately.
• Be polite.
• Try to stay focused on the person asking the questions – give them your full attention.
• Sound positive about yourself and your achievements.
• Don’t be negative about your previous employer.
• Give yourself time to think – don’t be afraid to pause if you need to think about your answer.
• Be clear and concise in your communication – try not to ramble.
  Always be prepared to give real life examples to back up any points you make.
  Ask the interviewer for clarification if you’re not sure what they are asking for.
• Focus on your strengths.
• Avoid jargon.
• Don’t under-estimate your skills and abilities.
• If you don’t know the answer to a question, say so. There’s nothing wrong with being honest.
• Always come prepared with questions of your own to ask at the end of the interview. For example you may wish to know about the working environment, whether you’ll be working alone or as part of a larger team, what the prospects for training and promotion are etc. They all show that you’ve given the role some serious thought and are genuinely interested.

Good luck!

• Revise your CV for every new job application. Study the advert to find out the requirements, go onto the internet and do research about the company, and then tailor your CV for the relevant position. This means that you must highlight work experience that matches the requirements and remember to also state this in your covering letter. This is very important because if the person screening your CV cannot see the match at a glance, your CV is sure to land in the bin.
  
  
• Always be 100% honest. Never overstate your experience or achievements as most companies do references so you will be caught out.
  
  
• Keep your CV short and simple, your CV should be between 3~4 pages. Leave out all irrelevant personal details. Your CV should consist of your name, address, ID number and telephone number and the rest should be your studies and work experience.
  
  
• Make use of headings in bold or underlining, use spaces and bullets to ensure that it is easy to read and follow.
  
  
• Ensure your spelling and grammar is 100% correct. This is important as it is a direct sign of your attention to detail and accuracy.
  
  
• Do not leave gaps in your working history, this only leads to questions and raised suspicions. Explain very briefly what you did in that time even if not work related. Be honest but brief.
  
  
• List specific achievements that are work related (i.e.: I increased sales by 30% over a six month period)
  
  
• Include at least 2 references. I would advise not to include one from your present company just yet as some agencies have been known to phone them even before they interview you and this could jeopardize your present job. It’s perfectly fine to list 2 referees from your previous companies. Just ensure that these referees are those whom you directly reported to. It will only raise suspicions if your referees are co-workers or family friends etc.