What you should know before you attend a job interview;
1.) Never lie in your CV
Whether you are a Hiring Manager or a Candidate, you have both been in this position before. One thing you should never do is lie on your CV. It can easily go wrong and backfire on you.
What could happen:
- The hiring manager might ask you a question in the interview, you will more than likely be umming & arring with no answer
- If you do lie and get the job. They may just ask you to do a job, which you have no idea how to complete! Just think what your manager will think of you then…!
If you want to impress the hiring manager, then mention that you have a basic level of understanding of that particular skill or role, and that you have encountered experience in the past at school/college and show you are eager to learn more, to develop your skill set further. Some clients do actually prefer a basic knowledge, as they can then train you to a way best suited for the company.
2.) Go for what interests you
There is nothing worse than working for a company that you have no interest in. Youwouldn’tbe a Teacher if youdidn’tlike kids. Youwouldn’tbe a Doctor if you were squeamish and afraid ofblood!And youwouldn’tbe a Swimming Instructor if youcouldn’tswim.
So why would you interview with a company thatdoesn’tinterest you?
You should consider applying for a role that includes your interests or things that you are passionate about. By applying for a role that you have interest or experience in, it’s easier to show of your skills and gives you the confidence to shine in your interview. This is not always the case…but based on experience, being interested is always a winner.
3.) Read up about the company and the Job
It is imperative that you do your research. It goes back to lying on your CV, if you don’t know anything about the company when they ask you what you know; you are going to be sat there scratching your head, thinking of an answer .They have taken their time to interview you, so take your time with researching. It will take 15 minutes as a minimum.
You might not be that perfect match, but showing you know a lot about the company will instantly attract you to the hiring manager.
Don’t ever ask Not really sure what you do actually, can you explain what the company does to me please?
4.) Dress Code
Don’t judge a book by its cover they say, maybe youshouldn’tjudge on someone’s appearance. But the truth is…if you don’t dress suitably you are probably not going to get the job.
An article recently mentioned that someone attended an interview dressed as if they were going to a nightclub, needless to say theydidn’tget the job.
The saying It’s better to be overdressed thanunder-dressedCouldn’tbe more suited for a candidate attending an interview.
Men: always wear a tie, if not at least take one just in case!
Women: Professional attire, Suit or Shirt and Skirt / Dress
5.) Be well prepared and ready for everything
The interview is the only one thing that will get you the job, be prepared. Tell yourself that you are going to be successful, tell yourself that they already like you as they have read your CV and invited you to meet them. All you have to do is prove yourself, and make sure you stand out from the other candidates in the mix.
You can never go wrong when you turn up for the interview 15 minutes early. It shows you are dedicated, interested and willing. You are telling them you want that job.
6.) Observation starts from the Receptionist
Never underestimate the Receptionist. The Receptionist usually handles many things for the Manager / Boss. First impressions count, they will be informing the boss that you have arrived and without you realising, they will be watching.
- Try and keep your bad habits under control, leave your mobile phone switched off and left in your pocket / bag
- No biting your nails
- Checking yourmake-up
- Read through your notes – you should have prepared yourself before the interview
In fact, anyone in the company you should be making a good first impression with – hold the door open for someone. Smile and say hello. They could be your next colleagues….
7.) Question everything
To ask or not to ask…that is the question.
Yes – always ask questions. Interviewers expect lots of questions, by doing this they know that you are generally interested in the Company and role. Although don’t ask what the benefits are, until at least the offer stage – you can negotiate then if necessary.
The best type of questions to ask, are the ones that really get them thinking. You are after all qualifying them too – you don’t want to work for someone you don’t know everything about, would you? This makes them remember you over other candidates, and maybe get you hired.
- What are your plans for growth in the next 3 years?
- What type of training do you provide your staff?
- Can you tell me about the team I’ll be working with?
8.) There might be more than one interview
For most companies, there will more than likely be two or more interviews (especially in larger companies). With smaller companies they could give you the job on the spot, or after your first interview.
If you get invited back for a second / third stage – they like you. They see something in you; otherwise they wouldn’t have called you back. However, in second stage interviews, there could be a different person interviewing you. They could be your future boss, they could be the owner of the company – you still need to make a good impression.
Typically – if they are really interested in you – they will show you around the office and introduce you do each department. (Don’t get over confident though) This is a really good sign, so be sure to shake hands, smile and be friendly. These are your potential colleagues; you will be spending 40 hours a week with them!
Again remember you are still making your mind up on the company, is this the company I want to work for?
9.) Close the Interviewer
After the interview, if you are really keen and want to know if you are being put forward to the next stage, or if you are going to get hired. Then close the interviewer.
- Thank you for your time, what is the next step?
- When are you looking to make decision?
- How do I compare with other people you have seen?
Remember, if you don’t ask you won’t know!
10.) Conclusion
To conclude, you might get hired, you might not. Don’t be disheartened, you won’t get every job you apply for. Not getting hired from a couple of job interviews is just a hurdle you are jumping over; it will only make you improve for your next interview. Learn from your mistakes and your strengths.
Smile, be confident and wow the interviewer. And lastly, GOOD LUCK!
