1. Interview Preparation Congratulations on gaining an interview. It is now up to you to make sure you are the one person that gets the job. The secret of success is ensuring you are fully prepared for interview and sell yourself well. The most prepared candidate invariably gets the job. Make sure you have all the details about the job, together with the contact details and the address of where you need to attend interview. If you are unsure about anything please feel free to ring your consultant, we are here to help! We will provide you with as much information as possible on your future employer and the role but ensure you do your own research by looking on the internet and finding out more about the industry they are in. Review the job description/details you have about the vacancy. Anticipate the competencies the company will look for and test you on. Gain a general understanding of the business the company is in, who their competitors are and where they are positioned in the market. You may be the only candidate who has done their homework, so you will stand out from the rest. Use the information you have gathered, make a list of questions you can ask at interview that demonstrate you have done your research into the company and the role. These could include:- What is the companies business objectives? Where does the company expect to be in 5 years time? How will the role develop? What are the major challenges within the role? What is the structure of the department? Where is the company placed in the market against their competitors? You should also plan answers to certain questions the interviewer is likely to ask. The interviewer will be looking for evidence of relevant skills and experience so prepare for competency questions and think of examples Questions could include:- Your strengths and weaknesses. Breakdown your specific duties in your current role. Past achievements – work related and personal. Why you are interested in the potential job. Your reasons for leaving previous jobs – be professional and constructive. Before attending your interview

2. The Interview Itself Remember FIRST IMPRESSIONS are crucial. Most interviewers will make judgements within the first 30 seconds of meeting you. Be on time – make sure you allow enough time to get there allowing for traffic jams/hold ups. If you are unsure on where it is do a dummy run the day before. Dress smartly and professionally. Most interviewers will expect you to turn up in a ‘business suit’ unless we advise you otherwise. Be polite to reception and support staff that greet you – they can be very influential. Greet the interviewer by name, with a smile and firm handshake. Be aware of body language throughout the interview Make Regular eye contact with the interviewer. Model your own body language to mirror the interviewer. Research has shown that interviewers favour candidates whose body language is similar to their own Listen as well as talk and be friendly and enthusiastic. Remember to ask the questions you have prepared prior to the interview. When you are asked questions remember this is your opportunity to sell yourself, be concise but don’t answer with just yes or no replies. Know your CV inside out and anticipate the questions you may be asked. Remember to be clear about your reasons for wanting to leave your current employer in a positive way. Know exactly why you are interested in the company and the job role. Leave on a high note, if you are interested in the job tell the interviewer stating why and thank them for their time. DO NOT:- Interrupt the interviewer. Answer a question with a question – unless you need to clarify what they mean. Be critical of your current or previous employer or suggest personality clashes. Be too laid back or over friendly. Avoid eye contact, give short clipped answers or waffle. After the interview Contact your consultant immediately with your feedback. We need to know your views before we ring the client. If you feel you could have done better your consultant may be able to put your case forward to assist you to get the job! Hopefully the interview has been a resounding success, but if not we will get you constructive feedback so that you can learn from the experience and do better next time around.