Can you... ? 

• Find out about the position before the interview? 
• Say that you have done your homework? (What do you know about the company?) 
• Consider and prepare answers to possible questions?
• Say that your grooming is excellent?
• Speak confidently about your skills and abilities?
• Speak with a level of interest and enthusiasm about the position?
• Listen carefully to the interviewer?
• Answer questions calmly and clearly?
• Consider your answers carefully, thoughtfully? (you have the right to think before you answer) 
• Talk about your previous positions/employers/colleagues in a positive way?
• Be cautious about the way you use your body language?
• Say that you have put together a portfolio?
• Say that you have spare copies of your curriculum vitae?
• Ask relevant questions that have not been covered?
• Speak with confidence because you have had plenty of practice through mock interviews.

• Be on time - arrive early if possible (although not too early). 

• First impressions count - make the most of the first 3 seconds

• Use a professional positive handshake to greet the interviewer - introduce yourself in an assertive way (clean, freshly washed hands will avoid the sweaty palm trap).

• Wait until you are invited to be seated. 

• Smile, make eye contact (without staring).

• Sit or stand with a positive posture - don’t slump or slouch. 

• While nervousness is understandable, be aware of body language. 

• Do not smoke - even if you are invited to. 

• Definitely NO mobile phone use (if you leave it on accidentally and it rings - switch it off and offer a sincere apology).

• Listen carefully, answer calmly and clearly (no waffle)

• Be open, honest, friendly and interested. 

• Answer questions thoughtfully. 

• Thank the interviewer for his/her time?

• Do plenty of research on the job you are going for and on the company.

• Be sure to make clear statements about the duties you have performed and accomplishments you have made.  Try to think of ways your skills and knowledge will benefit the organisation.

• Don’t exaggerate. Be honest in your assessment of what you can do. 

• Let the interviewer know that you are interested in developing your potential through further study - if this is relevant and true.

• If you have been asked a question that you have not anticipated, ask ... “Can I just take a moment to think about my answer?” - you have the right to think. This will enable you to organise your response before giving an answer. 

• If the interviewer answers the telephone during the interview, put the conversation back on track at the end of the interruption by saying “we were discussing...” 

• Let the interviewer raise the question of salary during the interview.  If this is not raised during the interview - then ask, but do be aware that job offers are often not made because the applicant priced himself/herself out of the market.

• Avoid saying anything that does not put you in a positive light.  Negative comments are more easily remembered by the interviewer and also invite follow up questions which can lead to more negative points. 

• Keep it positive and direct - avoid weakening your statements.  Instead of saying:  I feel I could do a good job" be more direct with:  "I could do a good job".  Although to avoid being too big headed you could try:  "my former boss used to say I was a good worker" rather than:  "I'm a good worker". 

• Practice with mock interviews and attend as many interviews as you can.  The more you practise, the more confident you will become.  Having a better idea of where you need to improve will better prepare you for the next interview.

• Unreliability - if you can't be on time for your interview, how reliable will you be?

• Poor personal appearance (your outfit should err on the side of being more conservative rather than less conservative).

• Lack of preparation for the interview. 

• Inability to express thoughts clearly - poor speech and grammar.

• Lack of planning for career, no purpose or goals.

• Lack of interest and enthusiasm.

• Lack of confidence - excess nervousness.

• Evasive - making excuses. 

• Over-emphasis on money - interested only in remuneration.

• Overbearing, pushy attitude. 

• Failure to ask questions about the job. 

• Negative comments about past employers. 

• Remember your body language can be read by the interviewer - keep it positive.

- a checklist

Proceed to Activity 2.    

If you have only a little work experience or none at all . . . 

• What were your results in high school/college/university? 
• Which subjects did you do well in? 
• What positions of leadership have you held? 
• Tell me about your work experience? 
• What are your career goals? 
• Why do you think we should employ you? 

If you have had work experience... 

• What was the nature of your previous job? 
• Tell me about a typical day in your former place of work? 
• To whom did you report? 
• Did you get along with the supervisor? 
• What special skills did you acquire? 
• Can you discuss how you have used your initiative in the workplace? 
• Tell me how you react under pressure? 
• What special accomplishments did you achieve? 
• What did you like about the position? 
• Why should we employ you?

Last and by no means least...

• How would you answer the dreaded "weakness" question?

It may help to check out the list of Questions, Questions, Questions.

What do you know about our company?
Do your homework before the interview.  Research the company, use their web site, show you are interested, also let them tell you.

Why should we give you the job?
Your knowledge, experience, skills, abilities

What can you offer us that others can't?
Give any details of any past successes with problem solving or how you managed to make a difference.  Think how this could be related to this position.

How long would you stay in the job?
As long as we both feel I'm contributing, progressing.

Tell my about yourself?
Keep it short, don't waffle, use the statement in your resume summary.

What are your goals?
Give long term goals, further skills you would like to gain

Do you have any questions?
If you have done your homework then you should be able to ask something which shows an interest in the job and the company.  Appropriate questions could be about their philosophies, long term goals, the objectives of the job etc.  Keep things positive by discussing what you can offer them rather than what they can do for you.

What are your strong points?
Give at least three, relate them to the job being interviewed for. 

What are your weak points?
Never belittle yourself or offer personality traits as weaknesses.  While you need to admit to at least one weakness, keep it brief, then move on.  Try to turn a negative into a positive by offering it more as an opportunity to improve.  Try talking about something you have learned from in the past, something that improved the way you did things.  Use an example of something that is not needed for the job.  "I'm not very strong in Powerpoint, although I have good knowledge of Word and Excel"   You could talk about something you are still learning or wish to finish, something which will benefit the company.  "When I have finished my studies, I will be able to ....."  Above all never say anything which will put you in a negative light.  This only leads to more negative questions and sticks in the mind of the interviewer. 

• In a group of about four people, ask each member to think of at least three positive experiences and three negative experiences they have had at an interview.

• Your support group could be asked to offer possible solutions by brainstorming and suggesting ways to reduce the negative experiences. 

• Each member of your support group should write a question that might be asked at an interview - one that the group feels is extremely important. 

• Members of your support group should brainstorm possible responses to the questions given as examples and discuss their appropriateness. 

• Ask your support group to plan and prepare for an interview. 

• One participant could volunteer to be the interviewee, one participant to be the interviewer and two participants to observe and evaluate. You could select a suitable job that you might apply for from the Newspaper. Build the appropriate dialogue. Share the responsibility with your support group.

• Select questions for the interviewer together as a team, and select appropriate responses for the interviewee. 

• Your team could then role play the interviews - and video tape them for evaluation. 

• Ask your teacher, a trainer or a respected colleague to help you evaluate your role play. 


Special Note: Video camera equipment is available at most College libraries and often available at local libraries, for short term loan to members.