The first few moments of your interview can have a decisive impact on how well the rest of it goes. Here are ways on how to start strong, together with some cautionary tales of what not to do from real interviewers.
THE INTERVIEW STARTS AS SOON AS YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE
The interview starts long before you shake hands and sit down in front of your interviewer. You never know who you might bump into on your commute, or whilst in the company’s building lift. So make sure you project a friendly, confident, professional manner from the moment you set off. Make sure you arrive early enough to allow yourself time to settle in. Put your phone on silent mode, make conversation with the receptionist and take in your surroundings – you might notice something that will make a useful 'small-talk' topic later. Don’t try and cram in any last-minute facts – you want to come across as calm and organised, not flustered and under-prepared.
TREAT EVERYONE YOU MEET AS YOUR INTERVIEWER
Make sure that you are polite and friendly to everyone you come across in the interview process. From greeting the receptionist to the people you share a lift with, to walking through an open-plan office to reach your meeting-room. These are all touch-points with your potential future employer and colleagues, who will often share their impressions of visitors afterwards. Make sure that you come into contact with sees you in a positive light.
CREATE A STRONG IMPRESSION
First impressions count, and non-verbal cues matter even more than verbal ones. So in those first few minutes it is all about smiling confidently, shaking hands firmly, making eye contact and generally looking as if you are glad to be there and you want the job. In everything you do, project an attitude of energy, enthusiasm and interest.
BE READY FOR A SMALL TALK
As part of your interview preparation, it’s a good idea to think ahead to some likely topics that might come up, so as to help keep the conversation flowing smoothly. The key is to come up with topics where you may have a shared interest, so that you’re able to both ask and answer credible questions.
BE ON MESSAGE FROM THE OUTSET
Politicians coached in handling the media are always advised to have a maximum of three key messages to get across, which they should stick to and repeat throughout any interview. Similarly, it’s a good idea to have two or three key points that you want to make about what you have to offer and what you’re looking for.
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