1. Your CV
- Getting an interview will be the first challenge on the road to getting your dream job. Having a great CV will guarantee you getting in front of your potential employer to sell yourself in person.
- Be sure your CV is tailored to the job spec and highlights your most relevant experience.
- Experience and training should be listed in chronological order.
- CV should be well laid out and easy to read.
- Don’t forget to spell-check!
2. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail!
- Once your interview is secured set aside time to prepare.
- Read the job spec thoroughly; make notes on key skills and experience required. Be able to explain examples of relevant experience.
- Research the company.
- Be prepared to answer questions around why you want to leave your current role and what you can bring to your new company / role.
- You should also prepare some questions to ask at the end of interview around the organisation, team structure, management etc.
3. STAR Method:
- Focus on this method to help you answer challenging competency based questions.
- Situation or Task: Describe the situation you were confronted with or the task that you needed to accomplish.
- Action: Explain how you reacted to the situation and what you did. The interviewer will be looking for how you used skills and attributes that they are testing. Remember to take a personal approach, the interviewer needs to hear about your actions, not the team.
- Result: Explain how it all ended. Use this as an opportunity to describe what you accomplished and learned from the situation.
4. Appearance:
- No matter what level of position the interview is for you will need to dress sharply.
- Wear a full suit that is comfortable and fit you well.
- Avoid loud colours.
5. Attitude:
- Actively engage with the interviewer. Make eye contact, listen intently and ask relevant questions at the appropriate time.
- Be confident. Everyone can experience nerves for an interview but it is important to show confidence in your skills and ability to perform in the role.
- Never criticise or complain about past employers. This is a sure way to promote a negative attitude.
- Be enthusiastic: Talk about what you can do, what you like about the organisation, why you are so interested in the role.
by Sheila Scanlon
