Punctuality
If you aren't 5 minutes early you are late already. This is an interview and you are expected to get there on time. If you are going to be late, call us at Ambis and we can let them know. If you are late make sure you apologise, properly.
Stand up in reception
The first impression is formed instantly. If you are sitting down you are relaxing (which you don't want to be doing) and you are below eye level, which subconsciously puts you at a disadvantage. You then have to get up - either gently rising out of the seat, or leaping up full of enthusiasm - put whatever you were reading down, push away your coffee cup and greet your interviewer.
Or...
You stand to one side and when your name is mentioned you stride over, with level eye contact, smiling with your hand out ready for the firm winner's hand shake.
Appearance
You only get one chance to make a first impression, so look sharp! A suit and tie always create the best first impression for a man. My Dad always reckoned that you could get away with a cheap suit if you had a good shirt and a nicely knotted tie. I would avoid wearing a brown suit for an interview, because I have had people rejected for it.
And let's not forget the 'Three Ns'
- Nasal hair
- Nails
- Nice shoes
If you make the effort it will never go against you.
Remember though - of all the things you wear your expression is the most important.
Negative Factors to watch out for
During the course of an interview, the interviewer will be evaluating your negative factors as well as your positive attributes. Listed below are negative factors frequently evaluated during the course of an interview and those which most often lead to rejection:
- Poor personal appearance.
- Overbearing, aggressive, conceited 'superiority complex', 'know-it-all' attitude.
- Inability to express thoughts clearly, poor diction or grammar.
- Lack of planning for career – no purpose or goals.
- Lack of interest and enthusiasm – passive and indifferent.
- Lack of confidence – nervousness.
- Over-emphasis on money – interested only in remuneration.
- Evasive – makes excuses for unfavourable factors in record.
- Lack of tact/maturity/courtesy.
- Condemnation of past employers.
- Failure to look the interviewer in the eye.
- Limp, fishy handshake.
- Failure to ask good questions about the job and company.
- Lack of preparation for interview – failure to get information about the company, resulting in an inability to ask intelligent questions.
Showing Enthusiasm and Interest
Demonstrating that you have enthusiasm for the role and a genuine interest in working for the company are both vital for the successful outcome of the interview.
Body language is important. Smile, lean forward a little, keep eye contact and nod gently when someone is talking.
Asking questions about the role, team, company, clients and projects all show that you are interested. If you turn them into 'involvement questions' then they are more powerful:
"Tell me about the team I will be working with?" (remember to smile when asking this one)
"What can you say about the type of projects I will be working on?"
"Where will I sit?"
"Who will I work with?"
"Who would you say would be the best mentor I could have from the current team?"
If you want to score mega points ask the questions others aren't asking. You know, the ones that make the interviewer stop dead in their tracks and say "Wow! No one ever asked us that before. Great question!" The secret to connecting with people is obviously quality conversation. The secret to quality conversation lies in the questions you ask! Don't ever discount the importance of good questions as part of your strategy. You must show that you are interested in the answer, to really 'ace it'.
The Interviewer's Perspective
If you are being invited for an interview they want to hire you. There is no other option.
You might be nervous, you might be late, you might be any number of things - but if you can do the job, you are in with a really good chance, and the interview is your opportunity to prove that you can do the job.
You might be interviewed by someone who is an accomplished interviewer who asks insightful, thought provoking questions or you might be interviewed by a complete beginner. Either way, if you demonstrate that you have the skills do the job, they will be interested.
As an employer they want an easy ride, they want to hire people who are easy to manage, people who are punctual, people who are enthusiastic and positive, ideally people who have potential to progress. They are probably not that interested in moaning, groaning, sickies who hate their previous employers, have never been promoted and blame everyone but themselves!
As an employer I have hired hundreds of people, but I never hired anyone who wasn't positive. Quite simply, I only wanted to work with positive people.