6 Tips on giving a successful job interview in English

What’s up everybody!

Job interviews are one of those processes that everybody hates but we know we all have to go through when we want to get a new job. What does this tell us though? It tells us that we need to be as prepared as we can every time we have to go to an interview which is why today’s blog post is going to be offering tips on how to be successful as well as reminding ourselves of what we should avoid at all costs.

1. First impressions are everything

Often we are told that we should not judge a book by its cover which is true, however it is also important to remember that interviewers definitely do take first impressions into account when assessing a possible candidate, therefore making the best first impression is vital to maintain the interviewer’s interest. If the interviewer loses interest in you because your first impression has not been amazing, then the chances of you getting their attention back are very slim.

2. Are you prepared?

Depending on the type of job that you have applied for will change the amount of preparation you have to do. If you have applied for a senior position in a company, not only is it important to turn up to the interview with an extensive knowledge about the company and what it does, but you should also be able to describe in depth how your skills could be applied relevantly to the position. On the other hand, if you have applied for an entry level position, you should try to learn as much information about the company as possible and the services they offer so that you are able to show the interviewer that you have prepared well for the interview.

If you do not prepare for the role that you are being interviewed for then it will be obvious to the interviewer. It is always recommended to turn up as prepared as you can for any questions that you might be asked. Doing this will not only increase your chances of getting the job but will also avoid you being left embarrassed in the interview because you don’t know what the company does.

3. Are you suited and booted?

It sounds like something fairly obvious that does not need to be said but the way you dress to your interview says a lot about you. It is imperative to turn up looking very neat and well dressed-maybe a suit for men and a smart dress or trouser suit for women. This not only gives a great first impression of how you dress but also gives an insight into how you might organise and prioritise your work as well. On the other hand, if you turn up to the interview wearing trainers and gym trousers, not only will you look like you haven’t made an effort to dress well, but the interviewer may also think that your work will not be tidy.

4. Don’t blame the traffic

Whatever you do, don’t be late! If you cannot arrive to your interview on time, then it is only reasonable for the interviewer to question whether or not you will be able to arrive on time to work on a daily basis or not. You should arrive around 10 minutes before the scheduled start of your interview to allow yourself five minutes to find the exact room where the interview will take place if it is far. Bear in mind that blaming the train or the bus for being late is not an acceptable excuse- get an early enough train to avoid all possible problems.

5. What should be avoided at all costs?

When answering questions, try not to go off on unrelated tangents which have nothing to do with the topic or question as the interviewer will most likely lose concentration on what you are saying if it is not relevant to the job. That being said, also try to avoid speaking about your personal life too much as this is not relevant for the job and you do not want to risk losing the interviewer’s attention at any point during the interview.

As much as it may sound like something that would never cross your mind as it seems very obvious, make sure that you do not swear at all during the interview as this will not go down well with the interviewer who will see it as a lack of professionalism and respect. Think before you open your mouth. Always.

6. What’s the key to success?

Believe it or not, the key to success like most things in life is just a little bit of common sense. If you think something is probably not suitable to do or say in an interview, then it probably isn’t. Do the best that you can do and be yourself and you’ll get it!

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