INTERVIEW PREPARATION

Making Your Job Interview Successful

The interview is one of the most important events in your life because the thirty minutes to one hour spent with the interviewer will determine your first or next move in your career.

Interviewers are continually amazed at the number of candidates who come to job interviews without any apparent preparation and only the faintest idea of what they are going to say. Other candidates create an impression of indifference by acting too casually. At the other extreme, a few candidates work themselves into such a state of anxiety that they seem to be a complete nervous wreck.

These instances can be avoided by knowing a little of what is actually expected of you and by making a few simple preparations before the interview.

We hope you will find the following information of use to you.

Preparing for the Interview

Preparation is the first essential step towards a successful interview. By researching the following points, you will be better prepared for the interview.

  1. Know the exact time and place of the interview, the interviewer's full name, title and correct pronunciation. Go and visit the company out of hours - know how long it will take to get there.

  2. Research the following points:

    The Company: Know their history. Use Kompass/Kelly's from local library. Visit the company's website. Further search on the clients they work with and any press releases.

    Product: Know and understand the product range. Get product literature from the Company or website. Find out who the competitors are, get their product literature and find out their strengths and weaknesses.

    The Job: Make written notes on how you perceive the job, the responsibilities involved, and how you would assume all the duties required of the role.

  3. Look good, feel good, wear smart comfortable clothes - clothes you know you look good in. Don't forget to polish your shoes - and please, do not wear white socks with black shoes! Do not smoke, chew gum, sloch, look out of the window, stare incessantly, become emotional, be over zealous...try to be professional at all times.