You know those nights where you looked at your bank account
and think ‘crap I need a job’. Then you spend all night, applying to job
after job praying that someone will take pity on you and will hire you? And
then a few days later...
BANG!
You’ve got an interview and for the first 000.5
seconds that’s great; You are absolutely ecstatic but then here comes the
panic.
Here comes the dread.
You end up googling tips for a job interview but some of the
things they say are just so darn scary and in the end it makes you feel more
frantic and panicked than before. This was me a week ago. I previously have
worked in bars, but for the first time in my life I had an interview for a job
that I really really wanted.
Feeling nervous was
an understatement.
However, a year ago my step mum was telling me about her job
interview about the job which she is in now) and the conversation has always remained
stuck in my head; she walked out of that interview thinking there was no way
she got the job, she didn’t know the answers to 2- 3 questions! But what she
did say was to think of it as a conversation and not to think of it as
interview.
So a mix between my step mum’s advice and random google
tips, I will tell you what worked for me! And hopefully make you feel more at
ease: 😁
T I P O N E : M A K E N O T E S
The last thing you want to do is look unprepared. The night
before your interview (so it stays fresh in your mind) go on their website and
write some facts/figures/’what they are about down. When I went in. After the
women introduced herself, she asked me almost immediately after if I had time
to look at their websites and when I said I had a brief look and mentioned a
few facts about their company. She smiled almost instantly and looked
impressed. I wrote it down as it helps me remember – There are plenty of things
you could do instead like record yourself with some facts and play it on your
way there!
T I P T W O : B E B O L D / B E H O N E S T
Employees are human too; all humans are flawed. And when the
dreaded question of ‘What your biggest weakness is?’ Do not reply with some
rubbish about being a perfectionist. It does not work, and it makes you look
arrogant. Be real with Employees. Talk to them and find some way to connect
with them outside the job. For example, the other person who interviewed me was
Welsh as well! So we chatted really briefly about that. It allows them to know
you a bit better; Also when you don’t know an answer, don’t just guess. Admit
to it: Say, ‘I don’t know but I think..’ and if you are wrong it doesn’t matter
They will most likely try and prompt the answer they are looking for out of you
but it shows you have initiative.
T I P T H R E E : H A N D S
This sounds weird, but for me I always talk with my hands! I
cannot help it. I try and hold them but if I start explaining something, I just
can’t help but use them. I have no control! So my advice is, whether your female
or male is to make sure your finger nails are well groomed. And if you are
going to wear nail polish, I recommend a neutral kind of colour and avoid
anything which is neon (it shows immaturity). Employees will look at your hands
(unless you keep them on your legs and they can’t see) and having looked after
hands shows that you take good care of yourself.
T I P F O U R : I M P R E S S I O N S
I think this is a pretty basic knowledge; but having a
shower before an interview is a must/wear black trousers or skirt etc. If you
wear make/up or not is up to you, it’s what makes you feel comfortable. However,
if you do love wearing make up like myself, then have fun doing so but tone it
down on eye-shadow colours; unless it’s an arty job it would show more of your
creativity. I remember reading online that eyebrows can really change your face
(providing you do it right) and can make you seem more ‘mature’. I don’t know
how true that is, but it’s something that has stuck with me. Having my eyebrows
on makes me feel more confident. Whatever that thing is for you, whether it’s
eyeliner or lipstick or contouring. Do it. The more confident you feel; the
better impression you will give off.
I h o p e t h a t h e l p s x o
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