Interview Do's & Don'ts

So, you have finally nailed an interview or like most good candidates, you are doing your research on how to perform at an interview. Well done!

For many of us, we are on our own as soon as the interview door is closed behind us and the interviewer directs you to take a seat.

People who have prepared and researched before-hand will now reap the benefits of their work behind the scenes and if you are reading this and the many other interview tip blog posts on http://petrocheminfo.blogspot.com/    then you may be on the way to winning the job you are going for.

Do's

• Arrive on time or earlier if possible
• Introduce yourself courteously
• Shake hands firmly but not too hard
• Express yourself clearly
• Smile in the interview
• Demonstrate how your skills and attributes can be of benefit to the company
• Try and match the interviewer's style
• Ask questions about the business and how it operates
• Take with you any research or notes (in a folder) to call upon when needed
• Construct your answers carefully and allow yourself to pause & don't rush
• Write down any new or relevant information the interviewer provides
• Show willingness to learn and progress
• Make eye contact
• Be assertive without being aggressive
• Talk openly about your goals and where you see yourself in the future
• Prepare 10 questions beforehand - you may use 5
• Turn your mobile off before your interview
• Accept the job if it is offered and you want it!

Don'ts

• Don't be late for the interview
• Don't just answer questions with a "yes" or a "no", expand where possible
• Don't be unprepared for the interview
• Don't deceive; answer every question honestly and if you don't know, just say so
• Don't talk about salary at this stage, get the job first and negotiate later
• Don't say negative things about past employers (the experience got you here)
• Don't show your lack of career planning - demonstrate where you see yourself in the future
• Don't tell the employer that this job is just a stepping stone to something else
• Don't blame your past employers or colleagues for your reasons for leaving past employment
• Don't rush through your interview
• Don't give the employer a time-line of when you need to have a decision by
• Don't drink alcohol 24 hrs before your meeting or smoke a cigarette 30 mins before your meeting

For every key responsibility or requirement posted on the job description or ad, make sure you have at least one example or transferable skill that covers all the requirements noted in the job ad or position description.

Note: some interviews are short and others long. This really depends on the interviewer’s schedule or the job at hand may not be that complex, therefore no need to go into too much detail. One (1) hour is normally sufficient but sometimes 15 mins or 30 mins is enough for an interviewer to make a decision.