For many people, interviews are nerve wracking but there are many things you can do to prepare for your interview to ensure you are prepared and are able to deliver a first-class interview under the natural pressures that come with an interview.
All our top tips fall under the most important aspect, preparation. By preparing well for an interview, you’ll know more about the company and role your applying too and will therefore feel better equipped to handle any questions that come your way. So check out our top tips below to help you excel in your next interview.
- Research the company: when you applied, you will have already done some research but now is the time to ensure you know everything you need too about what the company does. The first place to head for is the ‘About Us’ section on their website and then look at their latest news as well as their social media channels for any recent updates that you can reference in your interview.
- Know the role: read the job description thoroughly and note down the key requirements they are looking for so you can elaborate on why you are the right person for the role. By preparing some answers, you can use past experiences to inform your answers and impress with your skills.If there’s anything you are unsure of in the job description, make contact with the employer beforehand. This is seen as proactive and will reflect well on you.
- Prepare some questions: have some questions ready to ask at the end of the interview. It shows you are serious about the role and interested in the company. Some examples include ‘what could I expect to be doing on a typical day?’ or ‘what do you enjoy most about working here?’
- Dress professionally: this does not necessarily mean a suit and tie. This will all depend on the role you are applying for, so do some research beforehand on the culture of the company, or again, contact the employer for some guidance. If you feel comfortable and are dressed appropriately, you will perform better.
- The On the day checklist:
– Arrive early – plan to arrive early. Recruiters are often busy and have a strict schedule so being early is a great start. It also gives you time to compose yourself.– Don’t forget – to bring a spare copy of your CV, a note pad and pen to take notes, the job description to refer to in the interview and your prepared questions.– Manners – smile and introduce yourself on arrival, ask the interviewer how they are and begin to build a strong rapport from the start. At the end of the interview, make sure you thank them for their time and follow up with an email to the same effect.
– Good body language – maintain eye contact at all times throughout the interview. Sit up straight and be yourself. By doing these simple things, you’ll show the interviewer that you’re listening, confident and serious about the role.
It’s then all down to the employer to decide if you are the right fit for the role, however if you have done all these things you will have no doubt delivered the best interview possible and shown yourself in the best light.
If you are interviewing for one of our roles with one of our employer partners, our team are always available to give you more advice, so feel free to get in touch on apprentice@the-mtc.org.