Manage the Interview

Before you walk into the room take a deep, deep breath and smile. Look at all the interviewers and say good morning/afternoon and shake the interviewers' hands – if there are more than 3 just nod at each of them to make an acknowledgement. If you feel comfortable, take a pad and pen with you so that you can take notes. Ask permission to get the pad and pen out then place it at a comfortable place in front of you. Take a copy of your CV so that if your CV has gone missing – you look well prepared by bringing one with you. Otherwise, use it to remind yourself of what you have done. Under stress – it is easy to forget. If you can’t answer a question you can do a number of things: 1. Tell the interviewer that you would like to write the question down on your pad. Whilst you are doing this you can think of an answer. 2. Repeat the question again out loud – this gives you time to think of an answer      3. If you really can’t think of an answer – say ‘Can I come back to that at a later stage’. Speak clearly and slowly and make sure that your points are understood. Watch your body language – sit up straight, put your feet firmly on the ground and look straight ahead. Make sure you don’t talk too much: watch the interviewer's body language – if you can see them fiddling with papers or looking anxious – you are running out of time. Don’t use jargon – buzzwords are good if you are playing buzzword bingo but not if you really want to impress. At the end of the interview ask questions that you have prepared beforehand: it is ok to read from a list. If the question has been answered by the interviewers – don’t ask it again.