Your challenge is our progress
Well there's a surprise, tips will help you do well at an interview! In all seriousness though there is more to preparation than meets the eye. Here's a list of things that you can do to prepare:
List all the key points that you want them to know about you. This will help to ensure that you don't miss out on telling them anything crucial about your skills or experience.
Google or use any search engine to find out about your future employer check out their social media presence, check for news articles , try to find financial stats, their mission, visions, achievements.
There's nothing worse than arriving to an interview all sweaty because you've had to rush. Work out the route and how long it'll take to avoid any last minute disasters!
Practicing talking about your skills, experience and interest in the role that you’re applying for will help you to feel more comfortable in an interview. Try out these techniques for practicing your answers:
Using the key points that you’ve prepared about yourself, develop a 2 minutes pitch and practice it regularly. Doing this will help to embed these key points in your memory.
I often find clients feel uncomfortable doing this but it will help you to work on your delivery , gesture, posture, body language. Check your speed and clarity to ensure you get the most out of this step.
To really take your practice to the next level get a careers adviser or friend of a friend to conduct view your mock interview. This will help to put you in an 'as near' situation to a real interview as possible.
If you've really focused on your preparation and practice, performing on the day should be a little easier. The important thing to remember is that performance isn't limited to giving good answers. It also includes the way in which you present yourself, your attitude and body language. Here are a few things to think about to ensure you present yourself in the best possible light:
When you're introduced to the interviewer make sure that you smile and extend a healthy handshake.
Be sure to lean in slightly towards the interviewer to show interest and avoid confrontational or defensive positions such as crossing your arms.
Maintaining eye contact with the interviewer shows confidence (even if you're panicking inside) and can help to build rapport.
To ensure that you're providing the right information, listen carefully to each question and if you aren't quite sure what they're asking don't be scared to clarify.
Before answering each question give yourself a moment to think about your answer. Don't give it so long that it makes it uncomfortable, just long enough to structure your answer so you don't ramble incessantly.