How to Succeed at Interviews

Perfect your interview technique to achieve your dream job. The person who prepares best nearly always gets the job, according to the Daily Telegraph website. Your CV impressed the company enough to invite you for interview. Now your interviewers want to find out how keen you are and how you might fit with the company. A little work beforehand helps you to show yourself off to your best advantage.

• 1

  Research the company. Visit their website to learn about the products the company produces or sells, who owns it and what it aims to do. What does it expect from its employees? Does it have strong green credentials? Does it focus on making big money? Is it a public body or a charity supporting other organisations?

• 2

  Prepare two or three messages to show that you are a major candidate, suggests the Business Information Service in Newcastle website. Plan descriptions of a time you took the initiative, turned around a situation or played a useful role in a team. Check on the skills the interviewer wants, as outlined in the job description, and recall some occasions when you used them. Prepare short but specific responses to likely questions: interviewers usually ask about experience and why you want to work for the organisation, according to Jobinterviewquestions.org.

• 3

  Research your travel route beforehand and check on timings. Plan to arrive half an hour early, calm and controlled. Give yourself time to get ready, dress neatly and eat a light meal. Check to see if you have any information specified in your interview letter. When you arrive, be polite to any employees you meet.

• 4

  Make a good first impression. Smile at the interviewer and meet her eyes, building rapport. Sit still and upright in your chair and look alert. Listen carefully to the questions, and ask for a repetition if necessary. Think before you speak. Be brief and sound interested, showing you are keen to win the job. Be positive in every answer and make sure you give accurate details.

• 5

  Ask prepared questions when you are offered the opportunity, usually towards the end of the interview. Ask about training, development opportunities or aspects of the organisation first, before mentioning money or conditions. When the interview is over, thank the interviewer, make sure you know when and how he will contact you and smile as you leave.

• 6

  Thank the interviewer when the interview is over. Make sure you know when and how he will contact you and smile as you leave.