Job interviews are stressful for almost everyone. But with the right preparation, you can walk in feeling confident. Here is what careers experts say you should — and shouldn't — do.
Before the interview, you ought to research the company thoroughly — not just the website, but recent news and any projects they are involved in. You should prepare examples from your experience that show your key skills. You shouldn't memorise a complete script, but you should know your CV well so you can talk about it naturally. You had better check the location the day before — arriving late is very hard to recover from, and the first impression is extremely important.
During the interview, you should maintain eye contact without staring — it shows that you are confident and engaged. You ought to listen carefully to each question before you begin your answer. One thing you should never do is make negative comments about a previous employer — interviewers notice this and it creates a poor impression. You should also ask at least one thoughtful question at the end. It shows genuine interest. And finally, you had better turn your phone off completely before you go in — a ringing phone is one of the worst things that can happen.
After the interview, you should send a short thank-you email within 24 hours. You ought to reflect on the experience — what went well, what you would do differently. If you haven't heard back within a week, you should follow up politely with a short email. But you had better not contact them more than twice — it can seem pushy.
What about people who didn't get the job? Leila, 29, tells us: "I should have prepared more examples of my problem-solving skills. And I shouldn't have talked so much in my first answer — I lost focus. Next time, I'll do it differently."