How to be Successful in Your First Job Interview; from Looking the Part to Job Interview Training. - CareerAlley

How to be Successful in Your First Job Interview; from Looking the Part to Job Interview Training. - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. So your student life is over; no more weekday lie-ins, endless fancy dress nights out, rocking up to uni in your favourite comfy joggers and no more long holidays. Its time to enter the real world and put all those all-nighters in the library to good use and get yourself a job. Getting a job straight after university can be difficult and competing with the other thousands of graduates can seem rather daunting. But, with the right interview tips, youll ace your first job interview and before you know it, youll be employed in a heartbeat. Get prepared Get clued up. Take the time to research the company before your interview so that you know exactly what they offer. This doesnt just mean taking a look at the companys about us section on their website. Research further afield, see if they have, for example, been in anything news related, whether they have implemented any new strategies or recently been allocated an award. Also, look at what your job role will include and demonstrate how you can fill these attributes if you were to work for the company. The more clued up you are about the company shows your dedication and that you are passionate about getting the job. Practice. Prepare and practice possible questions that might be asked in the interview whether this is professional job interview training or just rehearsing a few questions with your family or friends a few days before the interview. Preparation will help you to avoid the embarrassment and panic of not being able to answer any questions, putting you more at ease. So think outside the box to establish some potential questions that might be asked. Remember that if youre ever asked the typical interview question of what are some of your weaknesses? answer it with a positive spin on it so that your employability isnt jeopardised in any way. When it comes to the end of the interview, employers normally ask whether you have any questions. All too often, graduates just say no, when it is the perfect opportunity to show how much youre interested in working there. Be genuine and ask what is it they like about the company? or what can you expect to be doing on a daily basis in the job role? Be on time. It is essential that you arrive to your interview on time. If you turn up late, you have immediately given the interviewees reason to not employ you by showing them that you have poor time management. Make sure you plan your journey beforehand, knowing exactly where it is, how to get there and how long it takes. If youre getting there by public transport, which it isnt always the most reliable method, or if your journey is delayed for some reason, make sure you have a contact number on hand to explain your delay so that they understand your situation. Looking the part Wearing the right clothes. Turning up to university in joggers and a hoody might have been acceptable, but it certainly isnt in the working world. Make sure you look presentable, professional and smart. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make it a good one. Take the time to go shopping and get an interview outfit and understand what type of business you are interviewing for. If its a creative job role, then it is likely that employers will want you to express some of your creativity through your clothing. Alternatively if its a very corporate job role then professional work wear such as a suit of smart dress is likely to be a better option. If you look the part, youll feel the part, increasing your employability. Get plenty of sleep. The last thing you want is to get to your interview looking tired and worn out or even worse get caught yawning during the interview. Make sure youre fresh faced and ready to tackle any of those dreaded questions. Attitude Walk into the interview with confidence. Believe in yourself that you have all the skills required for the job as the last thing an employee wants is someone that questions themselves and already doesnt think they are good enough for the job. At the same time, you dont want to come across as a know it all, so make sure you get the balance right. Have a smile on your face. If you approach the interview with a smile on your face, the employers will immediately know that you are enthusiastic about the job and actually want to be there. At the end of the day, these people are going to be working with you, so show off positive attributes of your personality. This article was written by Laura Harrison on behalf of Interview Gold, a company that offersjob interview training. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Joey Trebif