Interviews

Practice

Practicing is one of the best ways to prepare for a job interview.

A mock interview with your dedicated Career Development Consultant is one way to learn and practice interviewing skills.

Contact our team to set up a mock interview to get professional feedback on  how you deliver your answers and how you are perceived.

To begin, you can practice interviews by yourself or recruit friends and family to assist you.

• Know the interview process

  If you're new to the workplace or haven't interviewed in a while, find out what will likely happen during the interview so you don't get any surprises.

• Practice answering interview questions

  The simplest way to prepare is to use the questions you have predicted will be asked and answer each question out loud.

  The more you practice, the more you will be prepared to respond during an actual job interview.

• Use flashcards

  Write the questions down on flashcards. By shuffling the flashcards, you will become comfortable answering questions in any order.

• Record yourself practicing

  If you have a webcam, video camera or tape recorder, record your responses and play them back. Assess your body language (if you have a video camera) and your answers to the questions.

  How are your posture and eye contact? Are you fidgeting? Are your answers too long-winded? Do you sound confident? Practicing in front of the mirror is also a useful technique.

• Recruit a friend or family member

  Give your list of predicted questions to a friend or family member and have them interview you. Ask your practice interviewer for constructive feedback.

  Practicing with a friend or family member will provide you with a comfortable, safe environment for honing your interviewing skills and receiving feedback.

• Dress the part

  One way to make a do-it-yourself practice interview seem more like an actual job interview is to dress in interview attire.

  Not only will dressing the part make you feel like you are heading to a real job interview, but it will also give you the opportunity to make sure that your interview clothes are in order and you're ready to go.

• Setup an interview space

  It will also feel more like an actual interview if you set up an interview space.

  Even if it's your kitchen table (cleared of clutter) with a chair on either side, one for you and one for the interviewer, it will set the scene for your practice interview to be more formal.

  Practicing your interview skills will help reduce stress during your actual interview, and will allow you to focus on connecting with your interviewer rather than struggling to come up with answers.

  The more familiar you are with the types of interview questions you'll be asked, the better prepared you will be to interview.

Presentation

4 ways to make a good impression.

Winning interview techniques include:

• Positivity

  Be well-mannered with any staff you meet before or after the interview and, if you're feeling particularly nervous, remind yourself that the very worst thing that could happen is you simply not getting the job. During the interview, avoid talking about any personal problems unless completely necessary, and never badmouth your previous employers.

• Body language

  Give a firm handshake to your interviewer(s) before and after the session.

  Once you're seated, sit naturally without slouching in your chair or leaning on the desk.

  Throughout the interview, remember to smile frequently and retain eye contact.

  Body Language is crucially important in how you are perceived, and judged, in an interview.

  Your posture, handshake, eye contact and whether or not you fidget all contribute to your interview success.

  Master the best possible body language to make the best impression at interview.

  Harvard Social Psychologist Amy Cuddy explains how you can take control of your body language.

• Clarity

  Answer all questions clearly and concisely, evidencing your most relevant skills, experiences and achievements.

  It's perfectly acceptable to pause before answering a difficult question to give yourself thinking time, or asking for clarification if, at first, you're unsure what the question means. When answering, don't speak too quickly.

  When delivering your answer in an interview focus on the question, take your time and be yourself

• Enthusiasm

  It's important that you allow your personality to shine throughout, as well as ask thought-provoking questions at appropriate moments. Both of these strategies will demonstrate that you're genuinely interested in the role and listening closely to the interviewer.