subject: Six Top Interview Tips [print this page] Last week, the new Government body charged with the role of sharing the good and the bad news when it comes to Government spending and the projected consequences announced figures relating to employment "" or rather unemployment over the next five years. The Office for Budget Responsibility, whilst downbeat over the scale of job losses throughout the public sector, is more positive over the private sector stepping in with new job openings to balance the numbers. Of the 600,000 extra unemployed public sector staff as many as 500,00 new jobs are expected to appear through private initiatives. Nothing to worry about there then.
The projections haven't been met with across the board support, however. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) say, "The employment outlook is likely to be far weaker than the OBR forecasts and the coalition government hopes, with a rise in unemployment toward three million in the next two years a distinct possibility."
Whoever you side with it seems clear that in the immediate future at least, the jobs market will be increasingly fluid and increasingly competitive. As more and more people shift around the economy competing for the best paid and most rewarding positions, so the need to impress during employment agency interviews has become more important than ever.
Interviews can be extremely stressful, they can also be extremely advantageous "" your chance to shine.
If you've already got your foot in the door and been accepted for interview here are some top tips that will hopefully help you not only keep your show on the road, but also put you at the front of the starting grid.
Show you're taking the job and the company seriously be doing your homework and researching as much about the organisation and the position as possible. Clearly show that you've identified the fit between your abilities and their requirements. Demonstrate that you have what it takes to fill in their gaps. You need to understand them before you can realistically offer to be the person to improve them.
Never ever put down your previous (or existing) boss or company, and whatever you do don't use them as the reason why you are moving on. There is absolutely nothing to gain and everything to lose. You'll come across as a bad team player, even disloyal. Classic, old school advice "" if you don't have anything nice to say - say nothing.
Have some questions prepared. If you're left silent and still at the end of the interview you may be giving the impression that you're not actually bothered. At least show willingness to engage and find out more about the position on offer and the organisation you may end up spending a large part of your life working for. If you genuinely can't think of anything fresh and the interview has covered what you wanted to know, then re-work some of the things you've already talked about.
Sex, politics, religion "" avoid, avoid, avoid on all but the most shallow of levels. In fact ignore that advice. Just don't go there at all. Ever.
Be you, be unique. Don't over do it of course. Don't let unique slide into wacky "" that would be curtains. But don't just morph into everyone else. Accentuate the positive; your accomplishments, your achievements. This alone will reveal the special contribution that you can make if offered the job.
Be confident "" look the world straight in the eye. If you've managed to put into place the interview advice from the previous points then you shouldn't have too much trouble holding your head high.
