The New Year is coming, faster than you think. And planning for a student’s future requires continuous preparation. So to get ready for a great 2016, I wanted to share some key tips for a student who’s interviewing for an internship or job.
Direct from our partner, Steve Bailey from Alexander Associates Ltd Motorsport Recruitment (http://motorsportrecruitment.com/)….
- Preparation is the key to a successful interview including knowledge about the organisation and a full brief on the vacancy which should, ideally, have been provided in advance.
- At the very least you should look at the organisation’s web site and try and find up to date news articles or other information about the company before you attend the interview.
- You should know who you will be seeing at interview with their titles and how much influence they will have on the final decision. Ideally you will also know how many other candidates will be interviewed and what format the interview will take. You may, for example, be asked to complete a personality test.
- Allow plenty of time for travel to the interview and arrive early rather than late. If you cannot avoid being late let the client know well in advance so they are not waiting for, or not sure whether or not you will turn up.
- During the interview itself you are on show, however this does not mean that you are expected to do all the talking. Asking insightful questions can show that you have thought about the assignment in advance.
- Listen carefully to what interviewers say about the company and the vacancy and you may get the opportunity to feed back to them what they want to hear from candidates.
- Always remember the adage “two ears, one mouth”. Naturally you may be nervous but do not fill gaps with chatter. Smile and wait for the next question or ask a question of your own.
- Likewise be aware of monologues. Never speak for more than a couple of minutes at a time.
- You could ask the following question at the end of the interview “Is there anything that I have said or not said that gives you some concern about my ability to undertake this position?” Especially if you feel that an answer was not what the interviewers expected or you feel that one interviewer has some reservations. This gives you a final opportunity to address any concerns.
- Ask at the end of the interview ask about the decision making process and when a decision will be made and reiterate your interest in the assignment – enthusiasm is very appealing, whereas apparent indifference is not.
- If you do not get the job you can still learn from the process by asking for feedback. Most interviewers will be happy to give feedback. Listen positively to any comments and never argue – you may not agree with your interviewer’s perception of you on the day but it is their reality and you can use the feedback to improve your interviewing skills and your own self-awareness.
- If you want to make notes during the interview ask your interviewers if they mind but do not scribble down everything they say. Always ask questions as you go along, or when you are offered the opportunity to do so.
- Body language can be critical, always maintain eye contact, avoid crossing your arms or any other closed or defensive body language and avoid fiddling with pens or anything else.
- If you have the right skill set and have prepared well you should have a great interview… so…SMILE, RELAX, ENJOY YOURSELF!!! Copyright AA Ltd 2015
