Can anyone give me some good job interview tips please and good things to say at interview?

Question

I will be going for a job interview soon and job interviews are something that I am crap at. I know I can do the job, the interviewer knows I can do the job but I never get the job - can anyone offer any advice or good tips?

Answer 1

Smile and be polite. I find interviewers make up their minds within 5 mins of seeing you.

Answer 2

One thing is to come prepared to ASK some questions! Here are a few that may work...

1. Tell me about your background. (people love to talk about themselves).
2. Tell me about the people I would be working with.
3. What are you looking for in the person who will fill this position?
4. What are your personal "hot buttons"?
5. Where did the person go who held this position that's now open?

As others have said, get there early, be nicely dressed, do some research on the employer before the interview, and just relax and be yourself. If you're right for the job, and the job's right for you, it will all work out. If the job's not right for you, it's better to find that out during the interviews than after you start a whole new job!

Answer 3

Maintain eye contact, but don't 'eyeball' the interviewer. Remain calm, take your time to answer questions and answer them intelligently. Don't swear or rubbish anyone - esp your past employer(s). Dress appropriately - nothing too funky/sexy/weird. If you like the sound of the job, tell the interviewer.

Remember, an interview is a 2 way thing, so don't be afraid to ask some sensible questions. Leave q's re salary and benefits to 2nd interview though. It's not a bad idea to ask about office morale, why the position has become available (did the previous person leave? Why?) You can even ask to see where you'll be working, what your boss is like to work for. etc etc

Some don'ts: Don't answer with just 'yes' or 'no'. You have to elaborate. Don't look bored or scared. Don't over-sell yourself - the interviewer will see your suitability if you remain calm and follow Dr Curly's advice. Don't EVER interrupt!

It's also a good idea to have some questions in advance - like my suggestions above. Also, while your interviewer is talking, it's usually well received if you ask questions, kind of like you would in a normal conversation. Most of all though, show you have a personality, and not one of a psycho! They want to know you'll fit in.

Answer 4

do the research first. know the company, the products, the services, the customers, the history. know the job that you are applying for, what are the duties, the responsibilities. having information on these things will be your solid base to ace the interview. arrive on time, earlier is better. dress conservatively. walk confidently towards the interviewer, it is always polite to respond to handshakes if it is offered to you, shake the interviewers hand firmly. respond to the interviewers question to the best of your ability, give short simple but intelligent answers that reflects your desire to work for the company. ask questions about the company and its products, always look at the interviewer in the eyes, avoid moving your hands so much it is very distracting, end by making your point, what you can offer to the company, why they need to hire you, before you leave tell the interviewer that you are looking forward for their call. wait few days and send a short note thanking them for the time they gave you during the interview. try these things hope it works.

Answer 5

Hi,
A good tip I was told was if and when they ask you, What do you think you can offer the company that the other candidates can't? Answer with something like, I cannot say what I can offer better as I do not know them, but I myself can offer this (then list the qualities that you have that make you right for the job). Best of all try to relax and be yourself.
Good Luck

Answer 6

Make sure you are very smartly dressed with clean shoes. Take a pad & pen with you & make notes as the potential employer is speaking to you, they will be impressed that you are listening & taking in what they are saying. Underline key words that you can repeat later in the interview, it shows them that you really are listening. When they ask you if you have any questions, have a list of questions on your pad ready to ask & don't hide the fact that you wrote them before the interview because they will be impressed that you took the time to write a list of questions beforehand. Use what they told you in the interview to make new questions. If you couldn't think of any questions to ask, have your pad anyway & point at it with your pen & tell them you don't need to ask any questions because you had a dozen written down & they answered them all during the interview. Be confident but not cocky. Sit up straight & be aware of your body language & remember that they are probably as nervous as you are. Don't forget your manners, wait to be offered a seat, say please & thank you etc. Be energetic, don't stroll into the office as if you have all day . Make sure your breath doesn't smell. Good luck.

Answer 7

The weakness question is a horrible one in a interview. They will ask what is your weakness and the worst thing you can say is you don't know or actually list something you are crap at, like;

"I'm a bit lazy when I'm left to get on with things." - That doesn't go down well.

But also saying something like;

"I take on too much and put to much pressure on myself"

doesn't really go down well either. You need to identify something then come up with a solution, like;

"I used to put to much pressure on myself but I have since learnt to organise and prioritise work so I always know that I am doing what needs to be done."

Show a problem and a solution. Do that with most of the questions and you'll get on great.

P.S. wear a watch to show you can manage your time and the company's.

Answer 8

First things first...make sure that you are dressed appropriately, iron your clothes and polish your shoes. Get a haircut and make sure that you've showered and smell fresh. Secondly, see if you can pull up some information about the company, the more you know about them the more you can give the appearance of being interested in the company and obtaining a position with them.

During the interview, don't slouch on your chair, sit up straight, preferably at the front edge of the chair. Lean towards the interviewer, this gives a body language appearance of interest and engagement in what the interviewer is saying.

Ask intelligent questions, give articulate answers. Good luck!

Answer 9

Act confident sit straight make eye contact firm hand shake.. all that good stuff..

Your selling yourself to this person so answer questions honestly but make yourself look appealing to the employer

They will ask you where you see yourself in 5-10 years. If the person who is interviewing me is high on the food chain... I always say: I see myself with your job. and they love it!!! They want someone who wants to move up and show amibition and confidence. Dont overdo it though, you'll just come off arrogant.

Ask questions about the company and details on your job..

Obviously, you need to be dressed nicely and appropiate.

Arrive 10 - 15 minutes early

Be prepared: Have resume (keep it in a manilla folder so it doesnt get folded or wrinkled) ready if applicable

Dont be so nervous... relax. There are more jobs out there if it doesnt work out :)

Most people who respond to this question will have some great answers to help you. While your reading through them.. write them down.. It will help. Good Luck!!!

Answer 10

I find the hardest question is "What would you say is your worst characteristic/feature, etc"

Always answer this with a positive answer: i.e.

I tend to be an over achiever and take on more than I can handle.

I can at times be too organized and for some people this can be irritating.

They usually ask if you have any questions too - remember you are also interviewing them to see if you want to work there.

Some good questions would be:

Why is the position vacant (why did the last person leave)?

What exactly are you looking for in the person you hire for this position? (make certain to tell them how you fit their needs if you are interested in the job).

Who will I report too?

Can I see my work space (if an office - shows initiative).

Make certain that when you leave to give them a firm handshake and if you are interested in the job - let them know.

Best of luck.

Answer 11

BE POSITIVE. Remember it's not what they can do for you, it's what you can do for them. Listen, think before you answer questions, be yourself, dont fidget, dress properly. Remember there are a lot of people competing for the same jobs. Do not bad mouth your former employers or coworkers. Pickup an interview question book at the library and be prepared to answer the typical interview questions. Good luck, practice makes perfect.