How to: interview well

Here is our guide to maximising your chances of getting that job.

What employers look for

•  Qualifications
•  Positive attitude
•  Interest in the company and the position
•  Stable work history
•  Clear sense of purpose
•  Communication skills
•  High performance standards

Preparing for the interview Good preparation can make the difference between receiving and not receiving a job offer.

Find out as much as you can about the company you're applying to. This will help you to answer questions during the interview and will also enable you to ask relevant questions. Remember, not only should you appear to be interested, but if you are going to be successful there, you have to actually be interested in the company, what it does and who it deals with, particularly in your area, but also generally. The more senior the position, the more you should know.

Where, when and who. Be clear about who your appointment is with, where (a company can operate from several premises) and what time. If you're not sure where it is, check it out in advance, so that you know how long it's going to take you to get there, where to park etc. It is very bad form to be late for an interview and it puts you under pressure too. Make sure you know the interviewer's name and how to pronounce it (phone the switchboard operator and ask, if necessary), and also what his or her job title is.

Make a list of questions to ask. Once they have finished telling you about the company and the job, they will expect - and probably invite - you to ask questions, so, to avoid sitting there with your mouth open, write some down in advance. You need to know what will be expected of you in the new job, and how you will be able to use your experience and talents. If it's a similar job to your current or a previous one, find out how they do things and give the impression that you can handle it and possibly improve things. But don't come across as arrogant. You want to be an asset to them - and they should know that. On the other hand, an interview is a two-way street and both sides want to end up with a successful and harmonious situation. You want the job, otherwise you wouldn't be there - but don't come over as desperate.
One question that always goes down well: ask the interviewer what he or she likes about the company.

Look the part. Dress appropriately and be clean and tidy. Some might think this goes without saying, but we still hear of candidates who turn up for interview looking as though they're going fishing or to a club. Men: if the standard dress for the job is a business suit and tie, wear one, and make sure the suit is pressed and clean. Women: look businesslike. Don't be too casual but don't dress to kill, either. Professionalism is the word. Looking smart might not make you work any more efficiently, but interviews are all about first impressions, so make a good one.

Relax. Try to be yourself - at your best, but still you. If you're alert, have done your preparation and are confident that you could do the job you're applying for, what is there to worry about?

How interviews work

Interviews can be very formal and structured. Most of the questions will be formulated to uncover your past behavioural patterns and will be asked at a rapid pace. On the other hand, interviews can be informal and conversational, so that your background is revealed more slowly and apparently randomly.

The interviewer will set the tone, so go along with it.

There are standard steps in every interview process, as follows:

FIRST CONTACT
You may be met by a human resources employee who will tell you what to expect. Alternatively, you may meet someone from the department in which the vacancy is. Whichever is the case, greet them with a firm handshake, an enthusiastic hello and lots of eye contact as you introduce yourself.

THE ICE BREAKER
There is always a short interval before getting down to business, filled with small talk about the weather, how the day is going for both of you etc. Be enthusiastic and pleasant as you answer and ask questions.

THE INTERVIEW IS UNDER WAY
Follow the interviewer's lead, but try to get him or her to outline the position and the duties early on. That way, you can see how to apply your background, skills and accomplishments to the situation.

Establish a rapport with the interviewer. People want to hire those they feel comfortable with. Make sure your good points come across in a factual, sincere way. Emphasise your achievements, such as sales records, processes you have developed, savings you have achieved for employers, systems you have installed etc.

When asked whether you have done something before, if you haven't, try not just to say "no", but to mention something similar that you have done, or say you would be interested to try it and think you could do well at it.

Don't waffle about irrelevant things. Try to answer questions with information that can be related to the position you're interviewing for.

If you feel it's not going well, don't let your discouragement show. It may just be a tactic, the interviewer's way of seeing how you cope with the situation.

Avoid committing yourself to a salary at the first interview. If pressed, say something like "I would seriously consider any reasonable offer".

Make sure you talk about why you are interested in the position and what you can offer the company.

THE CLOSING PHASE
This is the most important part for making a lasting impression that can give you an advantage over other candidates.

Let the interviewer know you really want this job. Tell them you know you can make a success of it and that you hope you're still in contention for it..

Find out what the next stage is.

Say how much you would like to work for the company and (if appropriate) with the interviewer.

Remember, the candidate with the most enthusiasm for the position will often be offered it.

GOOD LUCK!