Advice
Advice from InterviewersNow it's time to look at the dreaded interview from the other side of the fence. The advice given in this section comes from the horse's mouth so to speak - the interviewers themselves. The information given here can mean the difference between the communal toilet and the executive washroom.
You will have a huge advantage if you are confident and show it. Of course, a lot of applicants are nervous, and it's natural to feel nervous... if you have the common and wrong attitude about job interviews. This company you're interviewing with is not necessarily the right one for you; you need to find out whether it is or not. Thus you are interviewing the potential employer as much as he or she is interviewing you. Keeping this in mind should help you avoid feeling like some kind of supplicant on bended knee.
You may think you really, really, really need this job. Well, you don't need the wrong job. If you think you need a particular job even though it may be lousy, then you need to re-evaluate your goals.
Worrying about what to wear is mostly wasted energy. Just look like a pleasantly attired normal person and you'll be fine. If you are paranoid, lurk near the offices of the company on the day before, see what style of clothes people are wearing as they emerge, and dress like that. Your garb is not going to matter unless it is so outlandishly different from the way people dress at the company you're visiting that the folks there think you're trying to send a disrespectful message.
There is no excuse for not having read the employer's website if they have one. Also, know what's on your own CV.
Know what you want. Visualize your ideal job; write down characteristics it has. Your job in the interview is to find out whether the employer has these characteristics. Another good reason to be ready with this information is that the interviewer may ask you for it.
Have some stories to tell and be prepared to narrate something you did that you're proud of. Even if the interviewer doesn't ask, being able to tell a few coherent stories of things you have done not only shows what you've experienced, but also shows that you're capable of logical, organized thought.
What if the interviewer asks hard questions? What if they ask you about your experience at XYZ Company, and you actually screwed up there big-time? Look the interviewer right in the eye and say, 'I screwed up there big-time. Here's what happened. And here's how I plan to make sure that never happens again'. Your candour and willingness to admit mistakes will overshadow your error, even if it's a big one.
Remember: you are not as good a liar as you think you are.
Ask who your boss would be if you were hired. Chances are that this person will be one of the people who interview you. Pay special attention to how this person deals with you. If this company offers you a job, this person is going to be very important in your life. If you don't click, take a pass on any job offers. Do ask your potential boss questions about how they manage their team.
Bring extra copies of your CV or resumé. The chances are that at least one of your interviewers will have mislaid his or hers. Having a copy to offer shows that you are organized and think ahead.
How do you make yourself seem likeable? When the interviewer asks you about your last job, tell him or her how much you loved the people you worked with. This shows how you are easy to get along with and people like you.