• Interview advice

► Interview advice

If you have successfully reached the interview stage you should be confident of your abilities and seize the opportunity to demonstrate more clearly how you  are the most suitable candidate for the job. This doesn’t always work in reality, attending an interview is a nerve wracking experience. However with some careful preparation you can overcome your fears and enjoy the experience.

Here are some top tips

• Before the interview make sure you know what to expect – will the interview be informal/formal, how long will it last and what you will be expected to do etc.
• Have clear instructions on how to find the business, leave yourself plenty of time.
• If for some reason you are unable to attend an interview make sure you call to let the employer know.
• Prepare ahead of time – think about how you can demonstrate you have the relevant skills for this job - plan answers to some of the most common interview questions:
  • Why do you want this job?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses related to the role?
  • Why should we recruit you?
• Do your research and find out as much information about the company as possible, check their web site, talk to current employees.
• As a rule dress smartly, but the more informal the interview and workplace the more flexible you can be.
• At the end of the interview you will usually be asked if you have any questions – try to think of some before your interview.
• At the interview try to relax and smile, remember that prospective employers are often as nervous as the candidates themselves. Try to appear polite and friendly and avoid yes/no answers. 
• Make sure you know what will happen next, when can they contact you.
• If you get the job – Congratulations! Don’t forget to inform your job shop of your success.
• If you are unsuccessful call the employer to get some feedback – where did you go wrong?

Download our Top Interview Tips leaflet.

Telephone interviews

• Very common for call centre work and any jobs were you’ll be using the telephone, employers will often ask you to call first, as part of a short-listing process, so they can assess your communication skills.
• Treat as a formal interview – make notes before you pick up the phone, first impressions really do count, speak clearly and with confidence.
• Have your contact details close at hand so that you can leave them for employers
• If employers are going to call you initially make sure your answer machine message is appropriate and professional!
• Make notes of the conversation.

Personal safety

While your job shop will try to ensure that all vacancies advertised are with registered companies or individuals who have adequate insurance to cover employees it is not possible to make detailed checks on every advertiser. You need to consider your own personal safety at both the interview stage and during employment.

The vast majority of interviews will not compromise your personal safety, but in order to be sure here are a few precautions that you should take:

• make sure you tell someone where you are going and what time you expect to return;
• find out as much about the company as possible before attending the interview;
• ensure that the interview takes place either on the company's premises or in a public place
• never allow an interviewer to steer you towards questions of a personal nature;
• arrange transport if interviews are to take place outside normal working hours;
• never accept offers of transport from an interviewer unless you are absolutely sure it is safe to do so.