Tips

Interview Skill Tips
Interview Skill Tips - learn to get a good impression during the interview.
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Interview Skill Tips

1. Smile and walk tall as you come in.
2. Give everyone a firm hand shake and look them in the eye.
3. Sit straight in the chair, keep your hands in a relaxed open position, for example, on your knees. (Not in pockets)
4. Smile and then wait for them to begin.
5. When asked questions, make sure you hear them correctly.
   Ask them to be repeated if you don't.
6. Answer fairly briefly, looking mostly at the person who asked the question, and also giving the others some eye contact.
7. Illustrate points you are making with specifics.
8. Speak fairly slowly (120 words a minute) and with clear diction.
   (If you have an accent, speak slower).
9. Vary your voice as much as possible.
10. Make sure you have researched and found the web site of the company.
    Refer to their mission statement or core values if possible or relevant.
11. If you are asked about weaknesses, turn them to a type of positive.
    For example, "I tend to need to finish a job."
    Or, "I work at night, much to my family's frustration."
12. Have a question to ask them that shows you have thought about the position.
13. Smile at the end, shake all hands and leave tall.
14. Answer to all the people in the room, not just to the person who asked the question.
15. Keep answers brief, but do give a specific example to illustrate your point.

Don'ts

1. Don't ask about money in the first interview.
2. Don't brag, but don't under sell yourself.
3. Don't ask for feedback straight away. (You can do that if you miss out on the job)
4. Don't waffle on too long.
   Ask if they want more details if you think you have been too brief.
5. Don't feel you have to answer questions about your age, religion or sexual preferences! (They are not supposed to be asked)
6. Don't say you were fired from your last job.
   Refer to downsizing or looking for new opportunities.
7. Don't dress too informally.
8. If they ask a difficult question, don't say, "I can't answer that." Say, "That's a tricky question. It reminds me of another similar question." Then answer that one.
   NB You should have thought about all the questions you could be asked!
9. Don't mumble and repeat yourself.
10. Don't get embarrassed if you forget a word. Ask them to help you out!
11. Don't make up stuff about yourself!
12. Don't ask too much about promotion opportunities in the first interview.