Hello!
Today I thought I
would write about something that is very much an everyday occurrence, yet so
many people can be struck with nerves and a case of speechlessness! Here’s a
little guide on how you can conquer these fears and hopefully get the job you
want first time around!
Prepare
As obvious as it may
seem, this can often go amiss with the mixture of emotions surrounding a job
interview as well as planning an appropriate outfit! But you should really think of it as an audition, which in drama terms you would be well
prepared so do your research, get prepped and of course be on time, better yet
be early! There is nothing worse than an employer throwing in an odd ball
question and it throwing you off, read about the company and think about the
questions they might ask you; as well as what you might ask them, more on that
later.
Be your own kind of confident
Of course everyone’s
confidence comes in all shapes and sizes, some people beam with energy and
excitement whilst others may be more reserved and take time to reach their full
potential. Either way, own it! This is all part of you and that’s what your
there to show, plus research shows
that on average, interviewers reach final decisions about applicants in only four minutes after meeting them meaning
don’t burst in and get in the interviewers face nor should you open the door
and slowly quiver in! Take a deep breath, walk in, smile and be yourself.
Take pride in your experience (big or small!)
Everyone has
experience in something from year 10 work experience to 2 years in an office
job. There’s nothing wrong with going to an interview where you have no
experience in that field of work, if you show what you do know you’ll
definitely have external skills which will help you and can even make you stand
out from the rest! So talk proudly of what you have done and how you’ve done
it, you can’t go wrong by trying can you? If you are going into an interview
with little experience, use this to your advantage and push your eagerness to
use their role as a way to boost your experience and really push the benefits
that their company holds.
Sell yourself
On average, every corporate
job opening attracts 250 resumes
and the employer has chosen to interview you so give them a valid reason to
have actually picked you. Talk about your strengths and show identification of
your weaknesses, how the company would benefit from having you on board, however
don’t push the limit and become a self-obsessed interviewee; not a good look! There is a fine line between confidence and
cockiness but you can only be one person so take that
and rock it! If anything refer back to parts on your CV that you are proudest
of; they have read it after all!
Ask questions
Interviews are two way streets and while this is quite a ‘state the
obvious’ tip, you can often find yourself at the end of an interview thinking
“They’ve covered everything, I have nothing to ask!” However, if you prepare
like we’ve already gone over then you should be good. There’s some basic
questions you can always throw in, such as “How can the company help me progress
in ___ skills?” or “What do you enjoy about working here?” Asking questions
emphasises your interest in the job role/company and further makes you a more
applicable candidate for the position.
Job interviews can
be daunting, especially when they are your first one but if you stay calm,
rehearse prior to the date and go in prepared and rearing to go there’s nothing
more you can do! Also, don’t be beaten
down if the first interview isn’t success, most job offers come in after a
couple of interviews.
I hope this guide
was a little handy and boosted your confidence in any areas you needed, I mean
I have definitely followed these steps before and I’ve never not gotten a job
after the interview, now that must be a good sign!
Until next time,
Shannon xx
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