Interview Techniques

Prior to an interview with a client, make sure you undertake as much research as you can regarding the company and the job, eg by looking at their website.

1. Allow plenty of extra time for your journey and for finding the exact location for your interview.
2. Actually enter the Company’s office about 5-10 minutes before your interview time.
3. Do not hesitate to ask to use their restroom facilities.
4. When you meet your Interviewer shake hands firmly and look them in the eye.
5. Throughout the interview keep lots of eye contact with the Interviewer. Do not keep on looking around the room, and don’t fidget.
6. Dress Code: be wise and wear smart conventional office wear, even if you think the firm is possibly less formal.
7. Answer your Interviewer’s questions clearly and firmly. Be conversational but not over chatty. Speak in a voice that everyone present can hear. Don’t be afraid to pause before answering a question.
8. Be positive and enthusiastic. HR Officers particularly like keen people, and if you can convince them that you are keen on their job that will be very much to your advantage.
9. Be positive also about your previous job, have good positive reasons for leaving and for applying for this particular post. If you have the chance to link past work experience with the job your are being interviewed for, you should certainly do so.
10. If you like the sound of what they are telling you about the job then don’t hesitate to tell them in return that you are enthusiastic and would like the job.
11. You must have a couple of questions ready to ask the Interviewer – questions about the company and the work, what training or prospects there might be, not just questions about how many weeks holiday there are or when you get a salary review. (Such questions can come at a later stage if things get serious!)
12. At the end of the interview, remember to thank the Interviewer for seeing you.
13. Let Covent Garden Bureau know promptly how the interview went. It is important for us to know how you feel you got on, and whether you are seriously interested in the job.

REMEMBER – all these interview hints are designed to help you to do as well at the interview as you possibly can!