Preparing for a Job Interview

Preparing for job interviews is something that you may not think too important, but most of us get to our first interview - the first in years perhaps - and lack of planning becomes fairly obvious. With a job interview where you really are excited about getting a job offer, this can be hugely disappointing and the chances are the interviewer has planned well and knows what they want to hear and what they are looking for.  Given how much time and effort you need to put into getting the interview it makes sense to ensure that you give yourself the best possible chance of success at the actual interview

There are so many places you can find advice on job interview techniques that it can be a bit overwhelming, we put together below two key areas to focus on in order to assist in preparing for your next interview and making a fantastic impression:

Dress to Impress

Your interviewer will make an assumption as to what type of person you are when you arrive, and they will make this assumptions within the first few seconds of you walking through their door.  This is important.

Dressing smartly doesn't have to mean dressing like everyone else - if you want to show a little bit of your personality, and it's the right environment to do so, then add a bright colour under that suit or a subtle piece of jewellery. Your attitude to work, and of course to the interview itself, can be read by what you are wearing and how you hold yourself so dressing to impress can mean thumbs up or down at your interview.  Interviewers want to feel that you have taken their job and their company seriously and taking time over your dress and general appearance goes some way to giving them this assurance.

We always try to dress for the job that we want, so if you want to be the next Marketing Director or Stylist, dress in the way you would expect them to and let a little bit of your personality out!

You also need to ensure that you are comfortable in the chosen outfit.  So wear it around the house a bit, practice sitting and getting up (in front of the mirror).  You do not want to look like this is the first time you have every dressed like this!

Be Positive

The best interview advice anyone can give you is to remain positive - about yourself, your views and of course your last employer/s. If you left your favourite job because you and your manager clashed, then you might not want to go into detail instead preferring to say you left to find similar work which was better paid, or that you wanted to find a more career-minded company, or you wanted a new challenge. Things like this don't need a mention, but of course you will normally be asked why you left a role or why you took on a particular job. Think positively and this help you shine at your interview.  Always be honest but be circumspect at the same time - this is not a counselling session but a job interview.  Remember also that the interviewer will have in the back of the mind that this is how you will talk about them and their company in the future.