Interview Tips

Remember the importance of non-verbal communication

If what you say conflicts with what your posture and expression are conveying, they will believe the latter. So regularly check your posture.

Eye contact

In a panel interview, eye contact should normally be maintained with the person who is asking the question, although remember to draw in other panelists by looking at them from time to time.

Verbal communication

Be enthusiastic and interesting.

Informal interviewers

Be wary of a very informal interviewer lulling you into a false sense of security – you may reveal more than you should in this situation.

Always try and remain positive

Sometimes the interviewer will touch on things in your past that have gone wrong. Concentrate on what you learnt from the experience. Don’t be negative or apologetic about yourself.

Move on

If you answer a question badly, forget about it and move on to the next one. You will not be rejected on the basis of one poor answer. So bounce back and tackle the next question with renewed enthusiasm.

Don’t give one-word answers

This puts more pressure on the interviewer to think of the next question quickly. Expand on your answers within reason.

Don’t bluff! 

If a question stumps you then you may want to try one of the following:

• turn a negative into a positive:
‘I have some experience of this at the moment but realize that this is an area I need to develop further and so I have set up a week’s work experience…’;

• ask if you could be given some time to think about the question;

• ask them to repeat the question, which will give you more thinking time;

• be honest and say that this was one of the questions you were going to put to them! (if it is a company related question);

• ask if you can return to this question later.