Circumnavigating the job-hunting arena can be a minefield.
Some roles are ultra-competitive and quite lucrative, meaning there could be hundreds of people applying for the same position.
A professional resume may help capture the attention of a recruitment consultant or the Human Resources Department of the firm you are attempting to get into.
A decent resume should be short, sweet and concise, getting straight to the point.
One-page resumes are generally favoured as they contain all the relevant details without the prospective employer needing to go through pages of material for each applicant.
A good cover letter and addressing the selection criteria will display your experience and attributes, hopefully tweaking the readers interest enough to contact you for an interview.
Being contacted for an interview can be a positive and uplifting experience, especially if you have been on the job seeking band wagon for a while.
It can also be quite confronting and stressful.
But, remember, you have already sparked their interest and you are interviewing them too.
A job interview will help you determine if the role is for you, by both the interviewer and yourself.
In some cases, the wage or duties might not be as you expected, or the location and potential out of pocket expenses can be too high to warrant accepting any offers.
Preparing for a job interview is important. Specialised interview coaching can assist you with honing your skills during a job interview.
Here are sone savvy and worthwhile tips that may assist you in achieving a successful outcome.
Table of Contents
1. Do your research
Re-visit the role you applied for and have a deeper look at the responsibilities and duties they have outlined in par with the pay grade.
If the same company has other positions advertised, investigate those as well.
This can help you develop an understanding of their philosophy; their pay grading and what roles have that are linked to yours.
In other words, get to know who you’ll be working with and who is responsible for what.
This will assist you in gaining a clearer picture as to how your potential new department works and what positions interlink with your own.
Search through their web page to ascertain their values, core beliefs and any community projects or social groups they may be affiliated with.
This will enable you to understand company dynamics and culture and determine if you feel you are going to be happy there.
Investigate standard interview questions. It would be better if you explore interview questions specific to the role you’re applying. For instance, you can look up Administrative Assistant interview questions if you’re applying for the same position.
Interviews can be intimidating and being prepared for some of the more typical questions will discourage you from being caught of guard and being unprepared with a response.
2. Prepare your outfit ahead of time.
Get together your best outfit for interviews and double check everything is spick, span and clean.
If you haven’t had an interview for a while, make sure everything still fits you and is not outdated or is fading in colour or torn.
No matter how casual the position may seem, dress well.
Semi-professional is usually the best way to go.
Presentation is the key here.
Keep jewellery and make up to a minimum.
Skirts should be at least knee length and pants and shirts need to be ironed and crease free.
Shoes need to be shiny and clean.
No smoking or eating on the way to the interview.
You want to smell good as well as look professional.
3. Don’t be late
Allow plenty of time to get to your interview.
Factor in aspects such as finding parking and trying to find the location, especially if you’re new to the area or its peak hour traffic time.
This shows your boss you have respect for appointments and will show them you will be on time for shifts and other relevant gatherings.
If you’re able to, arrive ten minutes prior to the scheduled interview.
This can be helpful if there are forms or other paperwork you are expected to complete ahead of meeting with the interviewers.
4. Come prepared.
Although they already have a copy of your resume and supporting documentation, take them all with you.
Arriving prepared can indicate organizational skills and the ability to thin ahead, which will go in your favour.
If you know how many individuals will be on the interview panel, take a copy for each of them.
5. Be mindful of your body language.
We communicate more with our body language than our verbal skills.
What we convey with our body language can speak volumes.
Have your arms open, instead of crossed.
Crossed arms can indicate defensiveness.
Lean back into your chair, without slouching.
Sitting up straight and maintaining eye contact with whom ever is speaking to you shows that you are attentive.
6. Be careful what you say about past employers and workers.
What you say about others says more about you than them.
If you’re talking bad about another company, boss or co-workers, bear in mind your employer may know them.
It also indicates that you may have had previous conflicts in the work places, which new bosses would generally prefer to avoid.
7. Smile and be polite to everyone.
This doesn’t relate solely to the interviewers.
Be respectful and polite to the reception staff, cleaning and maintenance crew if you see them and other people you come across.
You never know who they really are.
Being genuine and approachable to everyone shows you are a team player.
Greet the interview members with a smile and a hand shake and wait to be asked to sit down.
Make eye contact and smile when you shake hands.
Be friendly and courteous.
8. Leave on a positive note.
Thank the panel for their time.
Leave with a handshake and a smile.
Ask what the next step will be.
Some companies only conduct one interview and then commence work reference checks, whilst others may have one or even two more interviews.
Follow up with a quick email thanking them for their time.
9. Don’t stress if you miss out.
You might not get every job you apply for, even if the interview seems perfect.
Ask for feedback as to why you didn’t get the position.
Then.. let it go..
You are 100% worthy of a great job.
Read also: How to Prepare for a Job Interview