Job Interview Tips
Ace that interview!
By Kimberly Guest
You’ve got the skills, you’ve got the experience, now get the job.
Entering the job seeking market can be intimidating, particularly if you are not used to selling yourself and your skills. Nevertheless, successful interviewing skills can be learnt; the experts point you in the right direction:
1. Be prepared.
International management consultancy Ernst & Young recommends that people coming to interview with its executives prepare for a challenging interview. “Be able to articulate how your strengths, work experience and career goals will enable you to succeed in our organisation,” it says to candidates.
2. Consider your appearance.
International motivational speaker and author Sherry Maysonave warns that your image can sabotage your career. “Appearing stressed, rumpled, or haggard downgrades your professional image. To get ahead (and to stay ahead) in any career, pay attention to your workplace image as it is a powerful communicator. In the end, we all tend to associate well-dressed individuals with intelligence and achievement. And most people like to be associated with winners. Thus, well-dressed and well-groomed folks are always granted more opportunities to prove themselves - granted more opportunities for success,” she says.
3. Manage your stress.
Going for an interview, particularly when it is a job you really want, is incredibly stressful. However, you can manage that stress. Career advice website, WorkBloom suggests you plan your interview day ahead of time, ensuring that you will not have to rush to reach the appointment on time or worse, late. An additional stress management technique is to visualise the interview, imagining its success, and 'feeling' the positivity of the outcome.
4. Do’s and Don’ts.
Business consultancy, Price Waterhouse Coopers advises that you do not mumble or speak softly, appear flippant or disinterested, slouch or appear too relaxed or conversely too rigid, and apologise for lack of experience or make excuses. Instead, it recommends you phrase your answers positively, make sure you are alert and maintain eye contact, speak clearly, ask for clarification if unsure and, importantly, be yourself.
5. Ask your own questions.
South African IT and communications firm, Dimension Data, notes that very few people take advantage of the chance to ask questions of their interviewer. “It is important for you to ask questions - not just any questions, but those relating to the job, the company and the industry,” it says
It’s natural to feel a little nervous about going for an interview, but these tips along with the knowledge that you have already passed the CV test should put you on the right path.
