The Interview

You are being interviewed because the employer wants to hire people not because he wants to trip you up or embarrass you. Throughout the interview the employer will be searching for your strong and weak points, evaluating you on your qualifications, skills and intellectual qualities, and he/she will probably probe deeply to determine your attitudes, aptitudes, stability, motivation and maturity.

Some do's and don'ts

DO plan to arrive on time or a few minutes early. Late arrival for an interview is inexcusable.

If the employer presents you with an application form to complete, DO complete it neatly.

DON'T relax and rely on your application form to do the selling for you. Most employers will want you to speak for yourself. Please do not write in the form "refer to CV", that is the quickest way of annoying a prospective employer.

DO greet the employer with a firm handshake (but don't break their hand doing so!). Give the appearance of energy as you walk in. Smile! Be genuinely glad to meet the employer.

DO wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Sit upright but relaxed in your chair. Look interested at all times. Be a good listener as well as a good talker. Smile ...

DON'T chew gum. If offered a coffee, only accept if you are feeling relaxed to cope with it.

DO look a prospective employer in the eye while you talk to him but DON'T stare.

DON'T answer questions with a simple yes or no. Explain wherever possible.

DO answer questions positively, relating your past and present experience to why that company should employ you in the future.

DON'T lie, answer questions truthfully and as "to the point" as possible.

DON'T complain about your present or former employers or companies.

DON'T "over answer" questions, should the interviewer err into politics or economics try to " sit on the fence".

DON'T enquire about SALARY, VACATIONS, BONUSES, and RETIREMENTS benefits on the initial interview. If the interviewer asks what salary you are seeking, indicate your current salary.

Always be yourself.

Negative factors evaluated by an employer

During the course of the interview, the employer will be evaluating your negative as well as your positive factors. Listed below are the negative factors frequently evaluated during the course of the interview.

• Poor personal appearance (watch your shoes!)
• Overbearing over aggressive conceited "superiority" complex "know it all"
• Inability to express thoughts clearly poor poise, diction or grammar
• Lack of planning for career no purpose or goals
• Lack of interest and enthusiasm passive and indifferent
• Lack of confidence and poise nervousness
• Over emphasis on money interested only in the best money offer
• Evasive makes excuses for unfavourable factors in records
• Lack of tact maturity courtesy
• Condemnation of past employers
• Lack of appreciation of the value of experience
• Failure to ask questions about job
• Persistent attitude of "what can you do for me?"

GOOD LUCK AND DO NOT FEAR PSYCHOMETRIC TESTS!