Whether you’ve got an interview for a place on the college course of your dreams, that apprenticeship you’ve had your eye on or a weekend job, the whole process can be bloomin’ stressful – and people area always banging on about making sure you prepare for it.
But how exactly do you plan for a scenario when you really don’t know what to expect?
Check out our top tips to help you get interview-ready in no time.
Know you CV
And if you don’t have a CV, get one! Any interview – whether that’s for education, training or employment – will want to focus on what you’ve done, and the document that pulls all that together is your curriculum vitae, Latin fans. So take a read over yours – or the application you sent away – and make sure you have something to say about every little thing that’s on it. Take notes while you do this – it’ll help it stick in your head.
Practice makes perfect
This is tricky, because you don’t really know what the interview is going to ask you. I once went into an interview and their opening question was, “If you could have a cup of tea with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be and why?” I was flummoxed. You can, however, think of commonly asked questions so you’re at least prepared for part of it – the National Careers Service website has a good list of frequently asked questions here. Go through them, think of answers, and practice answering out loud, maybe even in front of the mirror or to a friend or parent. If you have responses up your sleeve that demonstrate your skills, experience and know-how, you’ll feel much calmer on the day.
Think positive
When you’re in interview rehearsal mode, remember to focus on the positives. Interviewers will often ask questions about difficult or challenging situations you might have come up against, so think up different scenarios from your school or working life (it can be simple things like helping to organise a school dance or a tricky customer in your Saturday job), and look at how you tackled the problems and came to a positive outcome, always emphasising what you’ve learned.
Plan ahead
Know where the interview is being held? Are you sure? It pays to do a trial run to get yourself to your destination. So check out train and bus timetables, time your walk and make sure you can get from A to B on time. Nobody likes a sweaty, out-of-breath latecomer – and it could cost you the interview.
Dress sharp
First impressions count, so make an effort with your appearance. Think smart – maybe not a full-on business suit, but make sure you’re wearing something that’s clean, ironed and professional. You’ll get brownie points over the guy that went in before in his trackies.
Do your research
Whether you’re applying for university or your dream job, find out about the place you’re going to. Interviewers love to throw in a question like, ‘What do you know about the company?’ just to test how keen you are – so make sure you have some info to throw back at them. A few facts will usually do the trick.
Get quizzical
Another thing interviewers love to do is ask if you have any questions for them – so go prepared. Tie this into the research you’ve done on the company or institution. Sometimes, you’ll think of things to ask throughout the interview, but other things could be what have graduates/former employees gone on to do? Why is this position vacant? What do you like about working here? They’re all valid questions and it’s much better to be prepared than to stare blankly. Never ever ask about holidays or pay at interview stage – it’ll look like you’re keen to get out of the office already.
Keep everything crossed
And that’s it – you’ve done all you can. You’ve got some answers prepared, your work and education history memorised, you know where you’re going and your interview outfit is totally on point. Now all that’s left to do is cross your fingers and hope it goes your way. Good luck!
