How to succeed in your interview
Be prepared: beforehand, on the day and during the interview
Preparation beforehand
Know yourself
- Be conscious about your strengths and weaknesses
- Identify your transferable skills, it means, the ones that can be important for that position
- Look back over your CV, you can be asked about anything you wrote!
- Also, it is convenient to read the papers and be aware of the current affairs. Have your opinion on it, just in case…
Know the job
- Pay attention to the job description and requirements.
- Think which skills and qualities are required, in order to get a better insight about the profile they are searching for
- Moreover, talk to people in similar kind of jobs: what they normally do, which is their profile... Look for hints that can help you!
Know the organization
- Find out everything you can about the company, for example, reading their annual report.
On the day
- Dress smartly/professional
- You should look professional. Avoid trendy clothes, jeans, or personal identity statements (like a political T-shirt).
- Watch your body language
- A firm handshake and making eye-contact show you are self-confident.
- First impressions are vital
- Demonstrate that you are technically qualified and sufficiently motivated to do the job. Also, let them see how well you will fit in with the company structure and the team you will work in.
- Arrive early, but no too early
- Show up 10-15 minutes early for your interview. Then you can take your time to calm down before the interview. Do not show up too early as this may be an annoyance to an interviewer. Never show up late.