Job Interview advice.

[Valkyira]

Hey all,

I applied for a job a few days ago and they got back to me yesterday and again today to confirm an interview on Tuesday morning. I have had a job before, but I never went for a formal interview as the employer was a family friend who already knew me. Also, this isn't just a job for some extra cash, this is an entry into a possible career, so I'm taking this very seriously.

I'm actually very nervous about this, I'm not exactly a confident person so as you can imagine, I'm worried that the employers might see that. It said on the company's website that only one in five applicants get accepted, so that was a kick in the bollocks.

Does anyone here have any advice as to how I can make the interview a success?

Also, for those of you who have had one previously, how did your job interviews go?

 

[Palademon]

consider what type of questions they may ask and prepare answers, you dont want to be saying "Because it's nice"

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Bring a vuvuzela, and threaten to use it if you don't get hired.

Just stay calm. The person giving you the interview likely had to go through one of their own at some point.

Keep eye contact.

Speak clearly, not softly. Not loudly, either.

Don't stuff your pockets. I once brought my DS, phone, wallet, and tic tacs to an interview...and I have a feeling the bulge in my pockets and the rattling DID NOT leave a good impression.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Threaten to give his daughter Genital Warts.

 

[Armored Prayer]

Make it sound like your not doing it for the money. (Lie if you have to)

Worked for me in my interview.

 

[Susan Arendt]

Some of this will be common sense, but it's worth hearing anyway:

1. Dress nicely. Wear a suit jacket and tie at the very least. It shows respect.

2. Be prompt. Plan to get there no more than 15 minutes early, but the latest you should arrive is exactly on time. If for some reason you wind up running late, call to let them know.

3. Smile. Be friendly to everyone you encounter - the receptionist, someone passing by, the person interviewing you. Don't be creepy, just be polite and respectful.

4. Be honest and direct. Don't criticize previous employers. Don't rattle on and on and on, just answer the question put to you as completely as you can, then hush up. Don't try to be too funny or clever.

5. Relax. Keep in mind, at all times, that there are many, many factors going into why a person does or does not get hired, and most of them have nothing to actually do with you. You can be absolutely fantastic and capable of doing the job and still not get hired. That's not a bad thing! It means that all you can do is your best, and be you. That's something you should have no trouble with.

6. Don't ask about money in the first interview. It's inappropriate. If and when they decide to move things forward, that's when you'll talk about salary. (Granted, if they ask you, then that's something else.)

 

[Tallim]

I almost guarentee they will ask you if you have any questions for them, think some up before you go to the interview but don't make it about pay or holidays. Research the company/job position. Any way you can show you will go that extra distance and are self motivated is always good.

I have had many job interviews and only once failed to get offered a position (only on grounds that I didn't have my own transportation and the position started before the buses).
Obviously the more technical/skilled jobs take more effort on your part to sell yourself.

Without knowing what you are going for it's hard to know what other things to suggest. Hotly contested positions tend to have harsher interviewing techniques as they want to find people that they don't want very quickly so they can concentrate on those they might want.

Good Luck!

P.S. Try not to worry about it, if you are suitable for the position you can walk in confidently and they shouldn't have a problem. That only leaves the chance that 5 other applicants are more suitable than you.

 

[SplashyAxis]

Make yourself look as clean and as presentable as you can. The interviewers will judge you on how you present yourself straight away, and you want to make a good first impression.

Don't be afraid to talk about yourself in a good light and point out all your good attributes, but don't over do it or you'll make yourself look cocky or full of yourself.

Try your best to stay calm about it, because all it is in the end is a conversation with strangers.

 

[Erana]

Research the company/job position.

This.
Not knowing about the company is one of the most common errors interviewees commit. Try to have an idea about what you're getting into. Not necessarily to ask them about it, but so that you may respond to their questions.

Also, Posture and eye contact are good. If you need some practice, actually record yourself saying, "Hello, I am *insert subject name here*". Watch it, and you'll be able to see your errors more easily.

A firm handshake can be very important, too. Keep your arm around a fourty-five degree angle, with your fingers straight but not strained, with your hand at a slight tilt down, so that their hand can lock comfortably with yours. You don't want to just embrace their fingers, but engage their entire hand with yours in an equal ratio.
Make the handshake firm, but not so firm that you're squishing the others' fingers into a ball. Movement should come from the lower arm, not the wrist, and a handshake would typically proceed with two to three shakes, possibly more or less. Watch for cues.

 

[Deofuta]

I believe that the time it takes for someone to decide they will hire/fire you (barring something ridiculous happening) is about 10 seconds. First Impression is everything. Give a firm handshake, and look calmly into their eyes. Don't Stare, feel free to blink, but let them know you have confidence in what you are saying and doing (even if you don't really).

 

[Trebort]

Like people have said, research the company and the job. It's the best advice.

Suit up, dress to impress. Give them all the bullshit about how motivated you are and how you will benefit the company and what you will bring the the job role.

I love interviews. I've never been turned down.

 

[Shameless]

if you are asked a direct question give a direct answer no more no less and stay calm and listen to what they have to say

 

[Keava]

Spoiler: Dont do that

Spoiler: Mind that too

Susan pretty much outlined the most important things already. So just be calm and mind both what you are saying and how you behave, avoid unnecessary gestures or words that have no relevance to the questions.

 

[khaimera]

Three best tips of mine.

1. Have confidence
2. Have some energy/passion (act like you care)
3. Prepare at least one question to ask at the end

 

[wiX_88]

Threaten to give his daughter Genital Warts.

Or threaten to not have sex with her. Yeah, think about it.

 

[Jedamethis]

Threaten to give his daughter Genital Warts.

Or threaten to not have sex with her. Yeah, think about it.

Or do both.

OT: Sorry, but I have no ideas, other than the common sense of 'Don't be a dick'

 

[Jark212]

Act confident and be polite, dress nice but not too nice, and learn as much as you can about the job your applying for...

You can do it!!!

 

[Crops]

There are several different reasons why you will or won't get the job. Most of those are very context sensitive. I've applied for several different jobs and functions, and I've also interviewed applicants in several different work environments. The one time I wasn't hired was when the company I applied at decided to promote an internal applicant rather than hiring a new face. Reasons why I did/didn't hire people are endless.

Two things I think are extremely important are first impressions and preparation;

1.) First impressions.

- Looks; Dress properly, do your hair properly, shave, cover up tattoos or piercings, clipped and clean fingernails, etc. etc. Also, breathmints and deodorant (not too much of course).
- Be punctual; Being 5-15 minutes early shows reliability. It's better to be 40 minutes early and going for a coffee across the street to kill some time than it is to miss your bus/get stuck in traffic and be 5 minutes late. Don't be there too early tough, you don't want them to be put on your schedule.
- Attitude; Be sharp, sleep properly. Smile, it makes you look a lot more friendly and open than a face like your pet hamster just died. Be active, don't stand around like you're lost. Be polite to everyone you run into (pretty much what Susan described) introduce yourself to people you engage in conversation. Be, or at least pretend to be interested in what people tell you.
-Don't bring anyone; Bringing a friend/family member along makes you look dependent and takes some of the attention away from you.

The people you run into beside the interviewer are your future coworkers, they are probably interested in who they will end up working with. Leaving good impressions all around can help decision making tip in your favor.

2.) Preparation.

- Know yourself; Don't just prepare a speech on how awesome you are, be prepared for questions about your negative characteristics as well.
- Know the job; Do some research on the company and function, get a good idea of what the they expect from you.
- Have your own questions ready; It shows that you're really interested in the job and you've put some time and thought into the application rather than just applying to see where it goes from there. Don't ask about pay, vacation or lunch breaks.
- Bring your CV; 2 copies, one for yourself and one just in case the interviewer never received it/forgot to bring it. You can ask at the start of the interview whether they have received your CV or not, and hand it over in case they haven't.

Being well-prepared helps you to relax a bit more and focus on how you want the interviewer to see you. Being lost for an answer, stuttering and "uhmmmm" can happen, but try keeping it all at a minimum.

Remember that it's not just about you wanting a job. It's about showing them that you're the best choice for the position.
Be confident, if you don't believe you're the best applicant, they probably won't either. It's better to go in with a positive attitude than it is to go through the interview thinking they won't hire you anyway.

Realizing what a wall of text this has already become, I'll stop now, but if you want some more pointers or anything, feel free to ask.

Either way, good luck!

 

[Haunted Serenity]

if they ask you if your a team player, saying you partaken in a threesome or group raids will probaly not further your cause.

Everything from above but don't get over nervous. If they contacted you thats because they're interested. They just want to know more.

 

[BonsaiK]

[ignore - sorry I posted in the wrong thread by mistake]