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Avoiding interview gaffes
As proven by the impromptu appearance of Guy Goma (the chap who turned up for a job interview with the BBC but ended up being interviewed on live TV by accident) on BBC News 24, job interviewers can be as prone to making mistakes as interviewees. It's difficult enough to reach the interview stage for some roles, so below are some top tips to help you avoid making a mess of it once you're there.
Don't be a rabbit
With an aggressive style some interviewers attempt to provoke a reaction, often causing candidates to get into an argument with the interviewer or becoming the proverbial bunny in the headlights.
The good news is that you can avoid being caught out by doing a little preparation. This will boost your confidence on the day and put you in a better frame of mind to deal with any unpleasantness or trick questions.
Hard hat time
It's unusual for an interviewer to be downright rude but do expect them to lob a few 'trick' questions your way. Some of the common ones include:
- 'What are your weaknesses?'
- 'Describe a situation when your work was criticised'
Remember, it's more about not getting flustered and thinking on your feet than having the right answer. Above all be honest - and give reasons for your past behaviour or responses. Companies want to hire humans, not automatons.You can read more about some of the more 'interesting' interview quesions you might be faced with in our article Interview questions: expect the unexpected.
Preparation makes perfect
Aside from good manners, the secret to a good interview is sound preparation: "It may sound like common sense but so many people, especially first-jobbers, make the fatal mistake of not doing their homework before walking into an interview" confirms Phil Sheridan, District Director of Robert Half Finance and Accounting. Any fans of The Apprentice will cringe at the memory of Paul Tulip's bluffed description of what Amstrad do.
You've got minutes to impress
According to fresh research from Office Team, part of Robert Half, it takes the vast majority of recruiters just ten minutes to make their mind up about a candidate. And a quarter of interviewers make a judgement about an individual after just five minutes.
So how do you go about making a good impression in those crucial first few moments? Avoiding the following gaffes will do a lot to help your cause:
- Don't arrive late
- Don't be rude or 'personal' about current or previous employers
- Switch off your mobile before you step into the room
One interviewer reports the following encounter. "He interrupted the interview to answer his mobile phone, at which point he slouched back in his chair, put his feet on the table and began tapping away on his laptop."
Have your questions ready
Just spending half an hour on a company's website can give you a definite advantage - look for recent press releases, new launch products or services, career biographies, awards & achievements. "Ask an intelligent question towards the beginning of your interview to demonstrate that you've done your homework" advises Office Team.
Useful links:
Read more about interview questions
Download free sample cover letters
Sort your CV with totaljob's CV templates
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