With the 5th November just around the corner, have you ever wondered how to sparkle at an interview? Never fear, we're here to help you increase your chances of illuminating the room!
Safety First
Make sure you cover the basic preparation steps before you head out to your interview. Plan your journey, find out where you can park if you're driving or where the nearest public transport stop is. Leaving it too late and arriving in a fluster will turn the heat up in all the wrong places!
Rocket your industry knowledge
One of the most impressive things that a candidate can do in an interview is demonstrate a good understanding of what the company does already. Take the time to do your research before your interview, and learn as much as you can about the company, its processes and services. Demonstrating that you've done your homework will prove that you're passionate about the role and send your chances into orbit.
Finish with a sparkle
At the end of an interview, you're likely to be asked if you've got any questions for them. This is your chance to make a great impression and dazzle them with the thought that you've put in. Ask questions like "what are the biggest challenges that you see in this role" and "what do you think the career progression for someone in this role would look like?" It will show your interviewer that you'd like to see yourself as part of their team.
And then, as always, there are the things not to do...
Don't play with fire
As the saying goes, if you insist on playing with fire, you're going to get burned. Keep to the facts and dont embellish your skills or your experiences at all. Be honest if they ask you about something and you're not sure. It's far better to be open about your abilities than to get a role and not be able to deliver.
Don't spin out of control
Catherine wheels are beautiful, but only if they stay firmly fixed in place. Don't stray too far from the questions that you're asked, and don't go off on a tangent. Not only will you look like you can't deliver a straight answer, but you risk steering into waters that you didn't want to discuss!
Don't leave your interviewer out in the cold
There's nothing worse than a firework that flops, and your interview is just the same. Bring some passion to your answers and dazzle them, not make them feel as if they're stood in the dark and damp waiting for something to happen and realising it was all a waste of their time and resources.
