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Interviews can seem daunting, and it’s perfectly natural to feel nervous or intimidated by the prospect of an upcoming interview. There are ways to ensure that you feel more comfortable and confident on the day.

Arrive on Time

The very first impression you will make is your punctuality. It’s important that you turn up 15 minutes early and let somebody know that you’ve arrived. To avoid arriving late, plan for your route ahead of time, and take traffic or other factors into account. 

Dress for the Occasion

Part of making a good first impression is dressing appropriately for an interview.

How you dress can vary depending on the role. Your appearance needs to be tidy and smart – a suit and tie is fine, as is a shirt, trousers and shoes. For shop floor roles, it’s important to consider practicality – you may be required to wear PPE or carry out a practical assessment. In either case, speak with your hiring manager or recruiter beforehand.  

Do Your Research

Your interviewer is going to want to find out more about you. It will be helpful if you research the following in your preparation for the interview:

1.     The Company – it’s history, structure, and latest developments such as projects or growth plans

2.     Your CV – it’s important that you are familiar with your own CV and that it is up-to-date, as the interviewer will base their questions off of this

3.     The Role – you will need to know as much as you can about the role you have applied for, and how your experience applies to it

4.     The Interviewer – an important part of any organisation is the people in it, especially if you are going to be working in close proximity with them

You can find this information on the company’s website and social media, on the job description, and, if you’re working with a recruiter, ask them to tell you more – they should have first-hand experience with the managers, and they will have visited the site.

Ask Questions

Being interested is a great way to make a good first impression. By being inquisitive and questioning, you will demonstrate not only a genuine interest in the organisation, but also your communication skills and personality. Consider asking about:

1.     Company Culture – you will be spending a good amount of time at work and with the people there, find out about the work environment and how employees socialise

2.     The Role – find out your responsibilities, who you will be working with, and how the role might develop

3.     Development Opportunities – what sort of training might be provided to improve your skillset and promotional opportunities to further your career

4.     Salary and Other Benefits – don’t be afraid to discuss salary or other benefits, these are important incentives to work within any organisation

Dealing With Nerves

Interviews can be daunting, and it’s completely normal to get nervous. Here are a few ways of dealing with the nerves:

1.     Do your research - If you’ve looked into the company and prepped your answers you will feel more comfortable going in

2.     Punctuality - Arriving on time and planning your route will give you less to worry about

3.     Be yourself - They’ll be looking for a good personality fit alongside someone who can do the role

4.     Be prepared - Make sure you have water to hand – don’t be afraid to ask if they don’t offer

5.     Interviews are a conversation - You are not being interrogated. Interviews are a two-way street, and you’re there to find out about them just as they are there to find out about you. The more conversational it becomes, the more relaxing it will be

Speak With Your Recruiter

If you have any doubts or question, get in touch with your recruiter. We offer interview prep over the phone, via video call, or in person.