Every candidate attending an interview has to spend time preparing for this interaction. I always send them my client’s website and the names of the person (or people) that they will be meeting with, so they can research them. I even go as far as to encourage them to ‘cyber-stalk’ their interviewees as it’s good to know what sort of a background they are coming from as this will influence their line of questioning. Interview tips like this are vital, especially for younger candidates.

I do however feel that there is such a thing as over preparing for your interview and this will probably result in you coming across as very ‘wooden’ and lacking in passion. You will also be trying so hard to remember what you have read the ‘best’ answer will be, that you will not answer what has been asked of you. Remember to be yourself and to not just give ‘textbook’ style answers.

Follow these five tips and you will ace your next interview:

1. Arrive 10 minutes earlier for your interview:
   Do not arrive any earlier or any later for your appointment. There is nothing worse than having to sit in the reception area while people stare at the potential ‘new guy’ whilst rating you out of ten. I do not need to go into too much detail about why you shouldn’t be late for an interview. Ever. No excuses will ever be good enough to come back from being late for an interview! Just don’t do it. Also, think about what you do while you wait. It is better to be reading a business magazine that it is to be playing on your phone.
2. Dress to impress:
   By this, I do not mean dress like Wonder Woman because you always wanted to be her! You need to look smart to make your first impression count. This is easy for men as you should always wear a suit – I insist that a tie is a must but a jacket is optional depending on the role that you are interviewing for. For the Ladies, black and white is always a good combination and looks smart. Just remember the obvious pointers of no short skirts, plunging necklines, bright red lipstick etc
3. Listen carefully to the whole question before answering:
   Do not interrupt the interviewer but listen carefully as some questions will require two parts to your answer. Once you have listened to the question, take a few seconds to structure the best possible answer in your head, then start talking. Make sure that you answer everything that was required of you in the question. There is nothing worse than a partially answered question. Always ask for a glass of water before the meeting so you can maybe take a sip of water while you formulate your answer.
4. Make sure your answers are to the point – do not waffle:
   Too many candidates fail the interview with their long-winded answers. Please fight the urge to fill empty spaces with mindless drivel! There is no such thing as an awkward silence in an interview. Answer each question with a concise, clear and accurate explanation. I would recommend that you use an example from your previous/current role in every answer.
5. Be positive and passionate:
   These are two of the most important characteristics that people look for during an interview. You need to be passionate about your next career move – be it in a marketing, admin or an IT role. If you do not have a passion for what you want to do, you may as well change careers now. You also want to be positive as this will come through in your body language and it will also ensure that you smile a lot. No one wants a ‘Negative Ned’ on their team to change the dynamic.

Remember these pointers and I will put money on the fact that you will ace your next job interview! If you feel that you would like some guidance before your next interview, please feel free to get in touch with me for some interview training.