To Do List to Prepare for Interview
Prepare for success. Do your homework on the organisation you are applying to work for:
- Visit the organisation’s website and view their mission statement, values, what they do, where they are located and research who their competitors are. Have there been any recent news articles about them? The more you know about the company the better.
- Prepare questions for the interviewer about the company and about the position by reading the job description.
- Try to anticipate the interviewer's questions and work out the correct responses.
- Plan to be at the interview at least 10
to 15 minutes early. Allow for unexpected traffic and parking difficulties. We recommend driving by the location before the interview so there are no surprises.
- Turn off your phone before entering the interview.
The Interview
The more preparation you do before the interview the more successful your interview will be.
- Greet your interviewer with a firm handshake and smile, and make eye contact.
- Be professional and speak clearly and confidently.
- Keep your answers relevant.
- Don’t just answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’; go into some detail and explain your answer.
- Listen attentively and show real interest in what the interviewer is saying.
- When the time is right, ask any questions that you may have about the position and the organisation.
- Always thank the interviewer for their time.
Personal Presentation
- Look smart and professional; first impressions count.
- It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed.
What to Avoid
- Avoid playing with your jewellery, your hair or looking at documents.
- Don’t interrupt the interviewer; always wait for the appropriate time to ask questions.
- Don’t be too casual in your responses.