In the majority of cases you will not be offered a job without having gone through an interview screening processes. For some people the thought of facing an interview can be daunting. By follow the guidelines provided by Part Time Jobs Agency you will be fully prepared for the Interview and give you the best opportunity for success.

Interview Advice

The key to interview success and feeling confident in your interview is ensuring you have spent time preparing for it. The more information you can gather and digest about the company, the job description and what skills you have to offer to make you the ideal candidate will notably improve your chances. Having this information on the tip of your tongue will give you more confidence as you are more likely to be able to give concise, accurate and appealing answers to questions asked.

Your first task is to research the company and establish as much information as possible. Identify key characteristics of this company such as what differentiates them from similar companies, what is the company's ethos and what is their product or service. In addition, find the job description and application form and highlight any key phrases or statements within it. By combining the knowledge of the company with the information from the job description and application form it is possible to predict a selection of questions that an interviewer will ask. Prepare answers to these predicted questions and gain feedback from a family member or friend on whether your answers need tweaking or strengthening.

It is important to have questions of your own to ask the interviewer as it shows that you are interested in the company and that you want a greater understanding of how it operates and its ethos. Any gaps in your knowledge or understanding of the role that you haven't been able to gather from your preparation work are the ideal questions to ask in the interview.

Remember the purpose of an interview is establish how suitable you are for the job and whether the skills you have match what they require. Therefore give answers that relate to real life scenarios so that they have picture you in the role. Nobody is perfect so showing how you have overcome adversity and difficult situations shows that you are human and that you can overcome a challenge. As tempting as it may be, never lie as interviewers will often spot it and will ask more probing questions.

Make sure you feel good about your appearance. It is essential that you dress smart and are well groomed; remember you only get to make a first impression once. Plan the night before what you intend to wear and if you have never been to the interview location before it is often worth doing a dry run to establish how long it will take. Tardiness is unacceptable and your success it greatly diminished if you arrive late or dressed inappropriately.

Potential Questions

Here is a list of potential interview questions. Prepare answers for them and trial with a friend or relative. This will give you confidence as you will have examples of your successes and experiences on the tip of your tongue. Remember to answer positively, accurately and concisely without waffling on.

• Why have you applied for this position?
• What experience do you have in this role?
• Can you tell me what you know about this company?
• Can you describe yourself in three words
• How would your friends describe you?
• What differentiates you from other applicants?
• Are you able to work in a team?
• Where do you see yourself in three years time?
• What are your greatest assets?
• When have you taken a risk, and what was the outcome?

Summary

• Prepare for your interview
• Research the company
• Read and digest the job description and predict potential questions
• Prepare answers for likely questions and get feedback from a friend or relative
• Prepare a couple of your own questions to demonstrate interest
• Prepare you smart business dress the night
• If you don't know the interview location, do a dry run to establish journey route and time
• Arrive early to the interview
• Have a copy of your CV with you
• Introduce yourself and accompany it with a good handshake
• Answer questions positively, confidentially and concisely, never lie
• Thank the interviewer(s) for their time and finish with a strong handshake.

Read More: Find out 3 things you should focus on when it comes to your body language during job interviews.