Do's and Don'ts

Do's and Don'ts

Do's and Don'ts

DO

  • First Impressions last – arrive 5 - 10 minutes early. If something unavoidable has come up, ensure you call before your scheduled interview time
  • Be prepared - allow yourself plenty of time before and after your interview
  • Re-confirm with your consultant the date, time and place of your interview, as well as the name and title of the person who will be interviewing you
  • Be prepared – thoroughly research the role and company you are being interviewed for
  • Know yourself – be ready to discuss your strengths & weaknesses, skills and abilities (ensure you can provide current examples in the workplace)
  • Maintain eye contact – look at your interviewer/s whilst they are asking you a question and when you respond
  • Be relaxed - but confident, project ‘self confidence’ not ‘over confidence’
  • Be concise - give enough information to answer the question in a clear and concise manner
  • Above all – Be YOURSELF there is no one particular candidate an interviewer is looking for… This is your chance to impress!! USE IT

DON’T

  • Be Late – keeping your interviewer waiting for you, the interview could be over before it has even started!
  • Over book – scheduling interviews directly before or after another interview or appointment is not wise, you may find it difficult to concentrate, and may get different companies mixed up!
  • Be unprepared – Ensure you have read the Job description if available and/or have thoroughly researched the company/job
  • Be uninformed – Make sure you know the person interviewing you, the location and date/time well in advance of the interview
  • Lose Focus – Gazing around the room, out the window. Poor eye contact could be perceived as nerves, lack of self confidence, boredom or even rudeness!
  • Fidget or slouch – you may either come across as ‘over confident’ or ‘not confident enough’
  • Babble or Talk for the sake of talking or filling in a silence
  • Lie – About your experiences, or ability to do the job (If you don’t have relevant experience, demonstrate how the experience you do have could be implemented and utilised to meet the challenges offered in the position
  • Look Bored – by the questions being asked. Treat each interview as a new opportunity to refine & enhance your interview skills
  • Don’t act like someone you’re not  - Be yourself