Preparing for an Interview

So the CV got you in the door and your search for jobs in Milton Keynes is underway. However, that’s just the start of it. The face to face interview is where you ‘clinch the deal’. Interviewing well can sometimes be more important that actual relevant career experience. Often, the person who interviews best is offered over the person with the more relevant career experience.Remember, once you’re in the door, your CV has done its job, now it’s over to you. Your CV will have meant you are on at least equal footing with other applicants and the employer will be satisfied that you have the relevant experience to be invited forward for interview. Now is the time to make yourself stand out as being head and shoulders above the competition. This is your big chance to really promote yourself, so it pays to prepare.

Doing the Homework

Before entering the interview door make sure you know the background to the company, their key activities and detail about the job in question.
Access the company’s website.
Request company marketing literature.
Research the company’s market sector and competition on the internet.
Use your research to make sure you have a list of questions to ask the interviewer – some sample questions are detailed below.

Access the Company’s Website

Request company marketing literature.
Research the company’s market sector and competition on the internet.
Use your research to make sure you have a list of questions to ask the interviewer – some sample questions are detailed below.

Preparing for the Day

Do a dummy run to ensure you know exactly where you are going for the interview.
Prepare answers to standard questions - samples of these are provided on this site.
Make sure you know your own CV.

On the Day

If you don’t arrive early, you’re late. Allow plenty of time for parking and signing in at reception etc.
Aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before your interview time. This will allow you time to relax rather than rushing, and will make a good impression with the employer.
Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake, a positive smile and good eye contact.
Don’t worry! It’s easy to be your own worst enemy by clamming up and being nervous. Remember, you’re talking about something you’re an expert on, you. Be yourself, talk confidently about your experience and skills and enjoy the interview.

Look the Part

You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. If you look the part, there is an initial assumption you can do the job.
Dress professionally. A dark business suit works well, with a co-ordinating shirt and tie for men and a shirt or formal top for women.
Keep jewellery to an absolute minimum. Ideally just wedding ring and watch.
Do not chew gum during the interview or whilst waiting.
Do not smoke before the interview. You want the interviewer to be bowled over with how smart you are, not overpowered with the smell of cigarettes. Body language
Always offer a firm handshake both at the start and the end of the interview.
Maintain good eye contact at all times.
Do not slouch, fidget or look out of the window.
Hands. Don’t bite your nails or put your hands in front of your mouth when talking.

In the Interview

Build rapport as quickly as possible. Be professional, but it’s good to be friendly too. You want to give the interviewer a ‘good feeling’ about you.
Answer questions precisely and concisely. Never speak for more than two or three minutes without further prompt.
Use good manners and good English. Do not use slang and under no circumstances should you ever swear in interview.
Be positive and enthusiastic throughout. Enthusiasm can sometimes compensate for lack of experience.
Elaborate. This is your chance to really ‘sell’ yourself and your skills and experience. Don’t answer questions with just a “yes” or “no”.
Listen carefully to the interviewer and the questions and don’t interrupt.
If you don’t fully understand a question or aren’t sure what exactly is being asked, it’s better to ask the interviewer for clarification before trying to answer.
Make sure you ask questions at the end about both the role and the company – some sample questions are provided on this site.
End the interview positively so you leave a favourable impression in the employer’s mind. Tell the interviewer you have enjoyed meeting them, that you’ve been very impressed by what you’ve seen today and that you would be very interested in taking it to the next stage.