P.R.S. Educational Trust

Interview DOs and DON'Ts

Interview DOs

• Dress appropriately. Extremes in fashion or very casual clothes should generally be avoided. Look neat and clean.
• Be punctual. Make sure that you are 10 minutes early and if you are going to be unavoidably detained ring and let them know.
• Express yourself and your views clearly.
• Bring a copy of all relevant documents, so you can refer to them if necessary.
• Listen carefully to the questions and answer clearly and thoughtfully.
• Make eye-contact. Remember to talk to the person (not the top right hand corner of the room or at their shoes).
• Make sure you fully understand the question and query any point about which you may be doubtful.
• If you are being interviewed by a panel, ensure that you direct your answer to the person who asked the question, while still including the other interviewers by making brief eye contact.
• Ask questions. Selection is a two way process. They select you, but you also select them.
• Be aware of what your needs are, so as you can assess how well the company can fulfil them.
• Be Confident. Remember that you applied for the position because you thought that you could do it.
• Show enthusiasm for the company and the position.
• Remember that they already like you. Employers don't interview everyone. They only interview those people who they think have the right skills and experience to succeed in the position. Consequently, in the interview, you maintain and improve on the positive image that you have already created.
• Make sure that you always present your skills in a positive light. Even when describing your weaknesses you should always show them what you are doing to rectify it.
• Make sure that you have an idea about where your want to be in the future and can relate the future goals to your application for the present position. You must be able to answer the question "Where do want to be in five years time?"

DON'T

• Rehearse your answers so much that you sound like you’re just reciting from memory.
• Dress too casually, too flamboyantly or in revealing clothing.
• Arrive smelling (too much perfume, cigarette smoke, etc.).
• Be late to your interview if you can possibly avoid it.
• Arrive stressed.
• Bring anyone else with you to the interview (a parent, spouse, friend, child, pet, etc.).
• Address your interviewer by his or her first name until invited to do so. Don’t assume you know how to pronounce their name, either; it’s better to ask the receptionist to be sure. Don’t assume that a female interviewer is a Mrs. or a Miss; use Ms. unless told otherwise.
• Slouch, fidget, or yawn while being interviewed. Don’t chew gum or bring food or drink into an interview.
• Tell jokes.
• Bring up controversial subjects.
• Be aggressive.
• Be self-aggrandizing, insinuating that you are perfect and have zero flaws.
• Take out any frustrations about the job search process on your interviewer.
• Speak negatively about your current or former company, boss, or coworkers.
• Lie.
• Offer up any negative information about yourself if not asked.
• Make excuses.
• Be afraid to ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question.
• Answer every question with a simple “yes” or “no” answer.
• Bring up personal or family problems.
• Ask personal questions of your interviewer.
• Answer your cell phone, check messages, or text during an interview.
• Act as though you’re desperate and would take any job.
• Act as though you’re just shopping around or interviewing for practice.
• Indicate that you’re only interested in the job because of the salary, benefits, or geographic location. Don’t indicate that you intend the job to be a “stepping stone” to something else.
• Bring up salary, benefits, vacation time, or bonuses until after you’ve received an offer.
• Say that you don’t have any questions.
• Call immediately after the interview to find out if you got the job, or make repeated phone calls.

Top 5 Job Interview Do's

1. Be prepared. Come prepared with as much information about the company and industry as possible. Prepare questions of your own. Good job candidates want to know that the company to which they are applying is a good personal fit as well.
2. Be confident. Begin introductions with a firm but not overpowering handshake. No one likes having their hand put in a vice.
3. Be engaging.Make eye contact often—a must. It shows confidence and connects you with the interview. Remember the interviewer's name, and use it during the interview to stay engaged.
4. Be careful.Think before you speak! This might be the only chance you get to convince a prospective employer that you are the right person for the job. Your answers during the interview are as important as the image you cast.
5. Be outgoing. Don't underestimate the power of a personal connection. If you can connect with your interviewer in a personal way, they may think you would be an enjoyable person to have in the office or on the team.

Top 5 Job Interview Don'ts

1. Don't be late. Arrive 15 minutes early to allow time for possible delay and use the extra time to freshen up for the interview if you have arrived early.
2. Don't be pushy about salary.Don't place a large emphasis on salary. The salary will only be discussed if and when the employer is sold on you as a candidate.
3. Don't talk too much. Answer questions fluently and concisely, but give interviewers the opportunity to interrupt as needed.
4. Don't exaggerate. Stick to the abilities you have, not those you wish you had. Be honest about your experience, emphasizing the positive, yet sticking with the truth.
5. Don't over or underdress. You should determine beforehand if you should wear a business suit, or if a more business casual look is appropriate.

Body language: interview dos:

1 Walk in confidently– It’s important you look as professional as possible from the outset. As soon as you walk into the building you’ll begin to be judged on your behaviour. There are even instances where recruiters watch from their office as candidates arrive, to see how their body language changes.
2. Deliver a firm handshake – Come on too weak and you’ll seem submissive, but come on too strong and you could be seen to be trying too hard. Keep it firm, but try not to crush their fingers. Finally, to avoid awkward situations, always remember to let go.
3. Sit up straight– Avoid being too stiff, but try to sit up straight, keeping the small of your back against the chair. Keep your legs straight and as still as possible. It’s ok to lean forward slightly every so often, as it shows the interviewer that you’re listening, but don’t overdo it.
4. Keep eye contact – Maintaining eye contact shows the interviewer you’re not intimidated, and that you’re taking everything in. If you feel uncomfortable, look away for a few seconds or try looking at their nose. Around 10 seconds of good eye contact at a time is a good guideline.
5. Smile– Recruiters seldom employ miserable people. It’s ok to be nervous, but a smile can go a long way. It makes you look more relaxed, comfortable and personable. To put it simply, it will make you more likeable.
6. Watch your hands– Most people have trouble with this one. It’s fine to be animated and gesticulate with your hands to make a point, but don’t go overboard. Keep your arms uncrossed and your hands away from your face (touching your nose or ear is sometimes said to indicate lying).

Body language: interview don’ts:

1. Be overconfident– Arrogance is not a good look. Walking into an interview thinking that you’ve already got the job can be detrimental. Remember: arrogance and confidence is not the same thing.
2. Offer a weak handshake – A weak handshake not only indicates a lack of confidence, it can also be very awkward. Try and mirror your interviewer’s handshake, and apply the same amount of pressure. Seems obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people get this wrong. N.B. It is never acceptable to fist-bump an interviewer – explosion or no explosion.
3. Slouch– Bad posture can make you look bored and uninterested. The same goes for crossing your arms and legs. Ok, so you might just be cold, but this can often be seen negatively. Effectively, you are closing yourself off from the situation.
4. Stare – It’s always important to maintain eye contact, but there’s definitely a limit. Don’t make it too intense. There’s a fine line between being attentive and being frightening. Finally, always remember to blink.
5. Play with your pen/hair – Really think about this one. It seems so obvious, but as with most body language, you often don’t know you’re doing it. Be aware of any bad habits you have before your interview, and keep them in the back of your mind. If you’re not aware of any, try asking a few (good) friends. Just try not to take it personally…
6. Fidget – Try to avoid moving around too much. Nervously moving your feet or constantly changing position will only make you look awkward and uncomfortable. Whilst it’s important not to look too wooden, fidgeting can be just as bad.

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Interview DOs and DON'Ts

Interview DOs

DON'T

Top 5 Job Interview Do's

Top 5 Job Interview Don'ts

Body language: interview dos:

Body language: interview don’ts: