So you’ve come this far, your CV has impressed the employer, the skills test went well, and now you’ve been invited for an interview. Sitting down and talking about yourself to two or more people you’ve never met before, can understandably cause you to panic. You are expected to be a healthy amalgamation of confidence, inquisitiveness, sharpness and insightfulness, as well as coming across as polite, friendly, personable and witty. It’s a tough mix, but one that if you manage to perfect, could land you your dream job.  As with any important meeting, presentation or interview, planning ahead is imperative to being prepared for whatever challenges you might face. It also gives you a chance to practice for any scenario and can help to steady interview nerves for the big day. We want to help you every step of the way. Here are some top tips on how you can ace that interview...

Research

Just checking out the company website is not enough, but it is a good start. Assuming you at least know a little about the position you applied for, visit the website and find their social media sites to try and learn everything you can about the company itself - its origin, recent developments, clients, competition, future goals, etc. Pay attention to the company blogs, news feeds and social profiles as these can often be a little more revealing about what is currently on the agenda. Note down any questions or queries you might have, as you can mention them when you are asked if you have any questions at the end of the interview. It will also help you to gain an idea of the type of questions you’ll be asked.

Rehearse

Practicing your answers to possible questions will help to ensure you answer them confidently and effectively and will also mean you’re not left speechless on the day! It’s important to rehearse the questions you are likely to find most challenging to answer. Common challenging questions include: What are your strengths and weaknesses?  Why are you leaving your current role? What do you hope to achieve in the future? Ensure that you are extremely familiar with the content of your CV, as the interviewers are likely to have a copy in front of them that they refer to. You must answer the questions confidently, making sure that your body language reflects your tone. Try to be clear on what you might say in response to questions, but don’t practice it word-for-word as responses given verbatim are less likely to seem genuine.

Breathe and count to 10 … in a foreign language

Nerves and anxiety come from anticipation of what could happen in the near or distant future. In this moment your heart is probably racing, you might be suffering from sweaty palms and your brain might be spinning thinking about all of the things that could go wrong. Simply focusing on your breathing and counting to 10 in another language can help you to concentrate on bringing you back to the present moment. The reason why you should use another language is because that needs more concentration than doing it in your mother tongue. It's a sure fire way to battle interview nerves.

Use interview nerves in a positive way

Some interview nerves are good, but high levels can be detrimental so we need to ensure there is a good balance of nerves. One of the most common pieces of advice people offer is “Calm down”. When you’re nervous Your body is filled with adrenalin, the same chemical which runs around your body when you are excited and happy. Calming down would require a lot of effort and we don’t actually want to be too calm, this isn’t a good thing to be either. Instead, you could think about how you could use this energy to show enthusiasm and passion rather than nerves and anxiety.

Whether you are about to attend your first interview or one of many, practicing, planning and preparing as best you can will help keep those nerves at bay. At Renovo, we offer employment related support services that can help you every step of the way in your career journey. A personal work coach is assigned to each individual who can provide one-to-one support and assist with CVs, applications and preparing for interviews. For more information on what we can do to help you get back on the career ladder, get in touch with us today.