Job interviews can be very nerve-racking experiences, especially for new graduates who might not be that familiar with the whole process. The important thing to remember is that everyone will be feeling the same apprehension you feel. But there is no reason to fear interviews, with the right preparation and plenty of practice you’ll be well on your way to a job offer. Below are a few important tips to help you prepare for a successful interview.
Do your research
It’s important to take the time to carefully research both the job you are applying for and the company offering it. Carefully read the job advertisement and a full job description. If a job description isn’t included with the original job listing it may be available on the company website. If not, you should contact the company directly and request one.
It’s useful to spend time on the employer’s website to make sure you are well versed on the company and what they do. Carefully read the ‘About us’ page and any information they provide about employment or career opportunities. It may also be useful to look at any information about the key company staff, as well as any media or news sections. If you can access them, company annual reports are also an invaluable resource to learn more about your prospective employer.
Interestingly, results from Graduate Careers Australia’s (GCA) Graduate Outlook Survey (a survey of Australian and New Zealand employers who regularly recruit graduates) reveal that the job applicant’s knowledge of the organisation was rated ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ by over half (55.8%) of employers surveyed. This may indicate that many graduates need to invest more time and effort into thoroughly researching prospective employers and perhaps generating appropriate questions prior to interviews.
Rehearse the interview
Think about the sorts of questions you are likely to be asked during the interview (see below) and carefully consider your responses. It’s important to appear confident without sounding too rehearsed. More than likely you’ll be asked to provide examples from your past experiences so try to have a few examples (perhaps of times you’ve used your initiative or come up against a difficult situation) fresh in your mind. Aim to keep your responses clear and succinct. Use positive examples of your achievements and past experiences, never dwell on negative experiences.
Interviewers will usually give you an opportunity to ask questions so try to think of a couple of questions to show that you have thought about the job and the company. Good examples might be to ask about opportunities for training or for advancement within the company. Or you could ask about the company’s future development or growth plans.
Ask a friend or family member, or better still someone in-the-know, to run a practice interview with you. This will help develop your communication skills, give you experience in dealing with difficult questions and, most importantly, build your confidence. Ask your practice interviewer for feedback and to watch out for any common mistakes such as mumbling or speaking too quickly.
Before the interview ensure you confirm important details such as location, time and the name of your interviewer(s).
It’s also a good idea to carefully look up the interview location (especially if it’s somewhere you’re not familiar with) and ensure you know exactly how to get there and how long it will take. You might even want to make the journey before the big day so that you feel extra confident you know where you’re going.
It’s also a good idea to aim to arrive about 30 minutes early to allow for any hold-ups along the way. It’s much better to spend a bit of time waiting before the interview than to turn up late. Use this time to relax (go for a short walk or grab a coffee) and do any last minute preparation.
During the interview
There are a few things that you can do during the interview to help you feel confident and positive, and to leave a good impression with the interviewer(s):
Greet your interviewers with a friendly smile and a handshake.
Try to minimise nervous habits like nail biting, fidgeting and giggling.
Avoid saying words such as ‘like’ and ‘you know’ etc.
Maintain good eye contact during the interview and if there is more than one interviewer try to talk to them equally.
Try to relax, be confident and smile.
Some important things to avoid doing:
- Avoid being late.
- Don’t make derogatory or negative comments about a previous employer.
- Don’t interrupt anyone.
- Never lie about your skills, qualifications or experience.
- Don’t leave your mobile phone switched on.
- Don’t try to manage or direct the interview – let the interviewer direct the interview and be sure to listen carefully to everything they say.
Ten common questions you may well come up against
There is no standard set of interview questions or procedures but there certainly are a few questions that seem to come up time and again and are favoured by many employers. Below is a list of ten of the most common interview questions that you may want to familiarise yourself with:
- Why do you want the job?
- Why should we employ you?
- What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
- What are some of your biggest accomplishments?
- How do you take direction?
- Can you work under pressure?
- Can you give some examples of times you’ve dealt with a difficult situation?
- What do you see as your strengths and weaknesses?
- Can you give some examples of times you’ve used your initiative?
- Do you prefer working in a team or individually?
