Top 10 Interview Tips

1. Plan and Prepare

Always leave early to avoid any unsuspected delays.

Confirm time and location of interview and plan your route.

If you are traveling by car, make sure you have adequate change for any unsuspected parking meters.

Plan your time well, get to the interview 15 minutes early - punctuality for your interview is sure to impress.

2. Look the Part, Dress Smart

Casual dress may seem common for most companies these days, however be prepared to smarten yourself up with a nice shirt and tie, clean shoes and freshly pressed suit. Be sure to greet your interviewer with a firm handshake, positive body language and good eye contact.

3. Know the Facts

Ask your Consultant for a detailed job description so you understand exactly what the job entails. Find out if you are only meeting with one person or will a panel interview take place. Will you need to bring examples of your work? Research the company's history including their past and present projects and read their website thoroughly. If you are to be based on site visit the project prior to the interview. Understand what the recruitment process will be? Will there be a second round interview or is it a one step process?

Use your Recruitment Consultant as a source of information and to answer any questions you may have prior to the interview. Generally your Recruiter will have already met your interviewer, visited their office and most likely been on site. They will be able to give you company brochures and brief you extensively on both the company and position.

4. Anticipate Questions, Prepare Answers

You are bound to be asked about your work history, your personal circumstances and your longer term ambition. The interviewer will look for both your interest in the position along with your personality fit for their company. In addition, you may be asked why you are intending to leave your current position, what you know about their company and whether you have the skills to fulfill the job description.

Prepare yourself to answer these questions and think about questions you may like to ask. This is your opportunity to find out whether the company and position are right for you. If you lack confidence during interviews or are simply out of practice, use the experience of your Consultant to give you some pointers.

5. Skillful Selling

You may be one of many candidates attending the interview therefore make it your mission to impress the interviewer. Write down beforehand what you consider to be your skills, strengths, achievements, and areas where there is room for improvement. If you spend some time considering these points including what you have to offer that company, you will do a far better job presenting yourself to a prospective employer.

6. Prepared for further Questioning

Sometimes you will need to expand further on all your answers. Know your resume/CV well to make sure you can provide them with the information they need. This could be a test of communication and knowledge, elaborate clearly but keep to the point, make sure you don't go overboard with your answers and that your answers actually address the question asked.

7. What Questions should I ask in interview?

There comes a point in every interview when you will be asked if you have any questions. Think hard about why you want the position and how it will benefit you. Some good questions to ask are; What are the training opportunities? What are possible future projects or prospects? Where could I aim to be in five years time? Be careful not to overdo the questioning, the interviewer may have a tight schedule to stick to.

8. Take Notes, Get noticed

Keep a pad and pen handy for interviews; don't be afraid to take notes. Jotting down details or answers can sometimes be useful reminder if you are called to a second interview. You can always refer to your notes when making a decision, especially if you have one or more job offers.

9. The final close to your interview

Leave the interview in a positive and polite manner, meet the interviewer's eye, give them a firm handshake and smile. On your way home recap on the interview, it might be useful to jot down some positive points of the meeting and what outcome you would like to achieve.

10. Follow Up. Contact your Consultant immediately after your interview

Ensure you contact your Consultant directly after the interview to discuss your overall impression of the interview and what the next step will be. If the interviewer gave you their card, send an email to thank them for the meeting and confirm your interest in the role. Use your Consultant to answer any further questions you have, they can also negotiate salary packages and start dates on your behalf.