Interview Guide

TOP 10 GUIDELINES

First Impressions Count	Body Language
Time Keeping	Listen
Do Your Research	Answer the Question Asked
Be Prepared	Ask Questions
Show Enthusiasm	Follow Up

First Impressions Count
Candidates should always dress professionally for interviews. Even if the company has a casual dress code, interviewees should dress in a smart business suit. It is always better to be too smart than too casual. Before the interview, select your outfit and check for stains and creases. Equal attention should be paid to personal hygiene. You should also avoid strong smelling food, drink and perfume before an interview.

Time Keeping
NEVER arrive late to an interview. Allow extra time for factors like getting lost or transport delays. Even if you know the area you may not know the exact location of a particular street or building. Enter the building about 10 minutes before the interview. If arriving late is inevitable, please call your interviewer to explain that you will be late. It is equally important, however, not to arrive too early for an interview - a busy interviewer will not appreciate being disturbed half an hour before a scheduled meeting.

Do Your Research
Researching the company before the interview and learning as much as possible about its services, products, customers and competition will give you an edge in understanding and addressing the company’s needs. Always check the company website - the more you know about a company the stronger your chance of success.

Be Prepared
Bring along a small folder containing extra copies of your CV and some paper to take notes. Do not weigh yourself down with copies of certificates and references as you can always forward these on later if required. You should also have questions prepared to ask at the end of the interview.

Show Enthusiasm
First impressions are very important. A firm handshake, a smile and plenty of eye contact are essential to demonstrate confidence. All interviewers are different: adapt your approach according to the interviewer’s personality whilst remaining professional at all times. Speak clearly in a confident voice, even though you may feel nervous.

Body Language
During the interview sit up straight and do not slouch. Maintain regular eye contact and avoid fidgeting. Too many hand movements will make you appear nervous and will distract from what you are actually saying.

Listen
This is often forgotten as candidates are too worried about selling themselves and talking about their experiences. Make sure you listen carefully to the questions being asked. Never interrupt or talk over the interviewer.

Answer the Question Asked
Remain relevant and do not feel rushed to answer. Candidates often make the mistake of not actually answering the question. Make sure you understand what is being asked, especially if you are not being interviewed in your mother tongue, and get further clarification if you are unsure. Try to avoid vague stories about your background but do give examples that highlight your successes and uniqueness. Answer honestly and try to remain positive. If you must give a negative answer try to follow with a positive statement.

Ask Questions
Many interviewees don’t ask questions and miss the opportunity to find out valuable information. Your questions indicate your interest in the company or job. An interview should be a two way discussion, an opportunity for you to find out about the company and the position as well as for the potential employer to assess your suitability for the role. Try to save some questions for the end of the interview.

Follow Up
Keep in contact with your recruitment consultant. Call the consultant afterwards to discuss the interview. Inform them of other possible interviews you may have been on and how you feel about this particular role compared to others.