Read the job description look at exactly what they want and apply that to an example or situation that demonstrates you meet that skill. Emphasize, make bits up or make it all up if you can’t think of anything.
The trick is to literally look at the advert/job description as a check list and make sure you meet the requirements at every point and in some cases meet the standard above and beyond the necessary. But don’t go overboard!
Practise the sort of questions you’re going to get asked (you must be used to them by now
) and answer out loud. Get yourself to that stage where there’s no umms, arrs or errs in your responses.
Few golden nuggets that have always served me well…
-
Always ask for a glass of water. Use it to sip when you need to think of an answer to buy some time and it’ll help slow you down a gear if you have a tendency to race off on one and start to babble.
-
“I am an excellent team player. I can fit into different roles within a team as required by using my initiative to lead and at other times fulfilling the supporting role within a group. I also work well as an individual under my own motivation …” Alright it’s shit but every personnel officer every job interviewer still wants to hear it from minimum wage to director level it’s always there so make sure you get it in.
-
Think of your weak/bad point that’s really an ‘opportunity’ to make you look good. I can’t believe they are still using this question but it still fucking crops up. Make sure you have something decent and half original lined up.
-
Body language. Don’t go overboard but smile in the right places, tinker with your seat until you are comfortable at the start of the interview and again eye contact and plenty of gentle nodding when they talk to you.
-
Ambition. Again don’t go overboard with this one but always come across as keen and eager to progress and make sure you ask what career opportunities there are. When they ask you where would you like to be in X years always aim high and say something like you don’t have a specific career path mapped out but you would like to progress eventually into management.
-
Questions. Fucking ask loads of them. Opportunities, training, benefits, career moves, job specifics. The more you ask the better and the more you ask questions from the perspective of the job holder the more they will visualise you in the role.
Finally walk in knowing
YOU are going to get that job. In fact go in thinking that you are doing them a favour by applying for their job. Fact is they are they need you more than they need you.
