Preparing For An Interview
Know Your Contact
When you are notified that you have an interview, find out who will be interviewing you.
It is a nice touch to be able to greet your interviewer by name at the start of your meeting. It shows your
attention to details; that you have prepared beforehand. If possible, find out what you can about the
interviewer - their position in the company, their successes, and so on, but do so discretely.
Depending on the type of job you are applying for, it may be appropriate to find out who your potential colleagues
and superiors would be. If the job requires specialised knowledge and experience, then the achievements of others
and their roles within the company can be acknowledged during interview, and this can add to the sincerity of the
impression you create.
Practice Your Responses
It is a good idea to
practice your responses to some of the more common questions asked at interview, especially if you tend to be
nervous. You can see some of these common
questions on another page.
Practice the form of words you will use, and your tone of voice. Aim to keep your
responses to the point, and brief, but covering all the salient detail.
If you are prone to nervousness, practice avoiding any habitual mannerisms like using your
hands a lot, or using particular facial expressions. Just keeping your hands still at interview can take a bit of
practice. Get a friend to help you if necessary. They can give their opinion about your responses, how you deliver
them and any about any signs of nervousness that you are still putting out.
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