Interview Techniques - Video Transcript

If you have been successful enough to get an interview, congratulations – but the job is not yours yet! Making the right impression at your interview is essential, from the clothes you wear, to the questions you ask. These are all things that employers will assess you on. Let’s start with the basics.

The Basics

The initial contact with the interviewer is the most important. They will assess your clothing before they get to meet your personality, so make sure that you have dressed appropriately. It’s always best to dress smarter than necessary (Gestures to his neat appearance – smart shirt and trousers and well groomed), rather than too casual (Gestures to a scruffy-looking candidate – jeans and T-Shirt and messy hair).

Research

Research the job and company you have applied to. Find out about the company’s products, services and structure. Check their website or call them and ask them for some marketing literature or their annual.

Documents

You’ll be asked questions about what you wrote on your application form or CV, so keep a copy to look over before the interview. It would look poor to contradict the information you supplied them with.

Journey

Turning up late for your interview is one of the most destructive things that you can do. Before you have even met, they will be thinking negatively about you - so the first thing we recommend you do is to plan your journey in advance (Clip of someone making notes on a bus timetable). Maybe even go for a test run of your journey before the actual day. Make sure you arrive approximately 15 minutes before the interview is due to commence.

Body Language

Body language. Maintain a strong posture (Clip of candidate sitting up confidently in front of an interviewer), do not avoid eye contact and use a firm handshake (Clip of good, firm handshake). Practice an interview scenario to gain feedback on your performance.

Nerves

Handling those nerves (Clip of candidate outside interview room, fidgeting with tie). This is perfectly natural, but try to keep them under control. It is important to appear interested and enthusiastic (Clip of candidate listening attentively to interviewer, smiling receptively). Deep breathing can help just before the interview, but do it in private.

Questions

Difficult questions – you will get them, no matter how well you have prepared (Clip of candidate talking comfortably to interviewer). Questions are often based on the information your CV. Focus on these areas and anticipate questions. For the more difficult and unexpected questions, give yourself a few seconds to think - interviewers will expect this. If you don’t understand the question, then seek clarification. This is a better option than answering the question badly.

Is there anything you would like to ask me?

‘Is there anything you’d like to ask me?’ Be ready with a couple of interesting questions at the end of the interview. However, be careful not to ask something that has already been answered. The interview is a two-way process so ensure that you have a list of your own questions.

Finally, be professional, enthusiastic and confident with your abilities. The company has already seen your potential through your CV or application form, and is looking for reasons to recruit you, not to reject you. Remember, you are qualified to do the job, you meet the essential criteria, be positive. However, if you don’t get the job, try to obtain feedback and use it as a learning experience – you will improve. Good luck.

Credits

Music:
Kevin MacLeod

Created by:
Jay Hewitt
Heather Cartwright
Stuart Rushton
Fred Stidston
Constance Mabe