How to nail your first Interview?

Are you a teenager or a fresh graduate looking for a job? If your resume has been approved, it means your employer already sees some potential in you, and you will most likely be called in for an interview soon. It’s understandable that you’re nervous, but with a few tips and some guidance on the very basic do’s and don’ts, you’ll be ready to give a great interview that is guaranteed to land you that job.

Table of Contents
How to nail your first Interview?
Learn About Your Workplace in Advance
The Basics
Don’t Shy Away from Small Talk
Promote Yourself
Be Confident
Now for a Few Don’ts
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Learn About Your Workplace in Advance

This is really important, especially if this is your first job in your specific field. In most cases, you’ll need the experience from this job in the future, so make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into because this is potentially the foundation of your career. Not only this, you must also know about the position you are applying for. Do some research; you would never go to your teacher and say “please do my assignment for me”. You must fully understand the importance of your knowledge on this, because people sometimes tend to skip this step thinking it isn’t of much relevance.

• Know your workplace
• Know the position you are applying for

The Basics

The most important things to remember when going into a job interview; let’s talk etiquettes. If possible, ask your academic consultant, because they might be able to help. Your body language and how you present yourself in the interview will be of utmost importance, because you will definitely want to make a good and lasting first impression. Don’t let your interviewer second-guess you before they’ve even had a chance to speak to you because you’re wearing sweatpants or dragging your feet as you walk.

• Punctuality is everything! Don’t make them wait for you, because you’re getting hired. If you’re someone who is usually late to places, get there early.
• Dress appropriately. Your attire speaks volumes about who you are as a person, so make sure it’s formal and according to the job/work setting.
• If you know the interviewer’s name, it will surely impress them.
• Turn off your phone. Your phone ringing while your interviewer is talking would be rude. Using your phone even just to decline a call may be seen as a sign of discomposure and lack of planning.
• Prepare yourself in advance for whatever they may potentially ask. The last thing you want is to be a deer in headlights in front of your future employer.

Don’t Shy Away from Small Talk

This is something that applies to socializing and making friends in your daily life as well. Finding shared topics of interest is a really good way to make someone like you or understand you better, it’s the perfect icebreaker and results in a lighter atmosphere, which makes the interview easier for the both of you. Observe them carefully and learn about what they might like, then bring it up as smoothly as you can to pique their interest. You may be inclined to think that small talk might not be a good thing to engage in because it deviates from your actual reason of being there, but in reality, it is actually just as (if not more) important as the rest of the interview. 

• Bring up potential shared topics of interest
• Tell them a bit about yourself! It will make for a great conversation starter and might lead to a discussion on said topic, where you can potentially showcase some of your off-resume skills.
• Make them feel comfortable in your presence. That will in turn make you more comfortable, resulting in a better, more composed interview.

Promote Yourself

In a calculated manner, let them know what you can offer. Make sure these points are something that will leave a mark, something that will help ensure that they’ll remember you. Focus on a few key points that you think might cater to the company’s needs and let them know that you can provide them that service. Remember not to go overboard, though. There’s a fine line between being self-confident and being cocky.

• Sell yourself
• Cater to the company’s needs
• Stay grounded

Be Confident

Do not let nervousness get the best of you! It helps to keep reminding yourself of everything you’re good at, highlighting your strengths might lessen the pre-interview anxiety. Don’t fiddle with your hands, look right at the interviewer as they speak to you because eye contact is very important. Keep a friendly but focused tone throughout. Don’t build too fake of a persona just so you can land the interview. Most interviewers see through candidates when they’re trying to act too professional, it seems fake and is advised against.

Confidence shows in everything, from the way you walk to the firmness of your handshake.

• Make eye contact
• Maintain composure
• Pay attention to your body language
• Don’t slouch, constantly fix your hair, crack your knuckles or anything that may give a bad impression
• Be yourself

Now for a Few Don’ts

• Do not talk too much. Let them ask the questions and smoothly transition into conversations in relevance with what they talk about.
• Don’t oversell yourself
• Don’t ask them too many questions. They are the ones conducting the interview.
• Be at least 15 minutes early
• Don’t ask them about their company. That will give the impression that you don’t prepare in advance.
• Avoid any distractions. That will give off the impression that you are uninterested.

Guest article written by: Emma Jones is a blog writer from Brighton, UK, and has been working as a content writer for ten years. She loves to read classic literature and is self-taught in Latin, German and French. She writes a blog called Assignment Writers UK where she helps students out by giving academic advice.