AllSouthamptonJobs is custom made to assist people find jobs in Southampton or to find jobs in the area of Southampton. With the job market now more competitive than ever before, you need to give recruiters even more reasons to pick you when you get to the key stage of being asked to interview.
The first thirty seconds of a job interview are very important. Here are a few helpful tips on what to expect and how to prepare for your job interview.
Job Interview checklist
- Ensure you double check the time, date and whereabouts of your job interview
- Plan the route the day before, eg if you are being interviewed for a job in Southampton you could get a route map from google maps so you can pin point the place to be before hand, or why not make a trip there the day before to avoid any stress on the day
- do some background reading on the job and company before the interview, a few minutes keying the company's name into Google will be time very well spent. Study the company's about us page and any additional data you can find. Your interviewer will be impressed if you have a good knowledge of the company and its background
- Re read through the job advertisement to remind yourself what the job involves and what the employer is looking for
- Review your CV and have a good think about exactly why you think you'd be good for this job
Look Good, Feel Better
Rightly or wrongly, looks sometimes make a difference, be smart and look professional. Bear in mind the company you are applying to - how do your potential future co-workers dress for work? If you already look the part then you're on the way to fitting in at your desired new job!
Be on time!
It is key to keep in mind that you never get a second chance to make a excellent first impression, so make sure you're prepared. Aim to arrive 20-25 minutes before your appointed interview time, that way if your bus is late or you get stuck in traffic you'll still arrive promptly. If you arrive early, you could wait nearby at a cafe or have a quick stroll around the locality thinking about what you plan to say in your interview. Aim to report to the front desk exactly 10 minutes before your scheduled interview time.
Hold your head up high and smile
Eye contact is a very important aspect while on your interview and can make a significant difference in how you come accross. If you constantly look away when speaking to someone, you may well be seen as lacking confidence or not interested or even being dishonest. So always answer the questions with eye contact, but without glaring.
Be enthusiastic and positive
During your job interview always be enthusiastic. Do not be unenthusiastic or mention any bad points about previous employers. Focus on your achievements and optimistic views, never forget to smile and be attentive.
Finally, don't give up your job hunt!
Unfortunately the reality of life is that you are unlikely to be offered every job that you'd like to get, however well suited you believe you may be for it.
If you do not get the job after an interview it is a wise suggestion to go back through the interview with someone and try to have them to discuss any areas where you could have done better. There will be more jobs to apply for in the future and any less that perfect interviews should be looked upon as part of a learning process.
Don't forget that performing well at an interview is a skill and it can be learnt and improved with help and practice. There are plenty jobs in and around Southampton - the main thing is to find the right one for you!
AllSouthamptonJobs wish you the best of luck with you job hunting!