Interview Tips

Interview Tips for employees recommended by Australian Human Resources Institute Fact Sheet

DO:

• Be professional and polite with everyone. When you arrive, state clearly who you are and who you are there to see. Be punctual and prepared.
• Feel confident about yourself. Knowing you look good and that you are well prepared will go a long way to boosting your confidence.
• Smile – it will relax you and make others feel receptive to what you have to say.
• Be positive and polite about any delays during the interview and when answering questions.
• A firm handshake is essential. Good posture and eye contact will make you appear confident and will help your interviewer to feel comfortable with you.
• Avoid the temptation to be too informal. Even if your interviewer has a relaxed and friendly style, they are still trying to assess you as a potential employee and representative of their company.
• Be prepared for your interview as it will help you to answer questions in a concise and relevant manner, and will enable you to demonstrate knowledge of the company and a real interest in the position.

DON’T

• Poor interview preparation. A lack of thought about the position or research about the company.
• Poor posture. Failure to maintain eye contact or scowling or fidgeting through nervousness.
• Being overly friendly. Inappropriate behaviour in an interview situation such as talking too much about personal circumstances, swearing or using other inappropriate language.
• Being negative about present and former employers, the company, its staff and procedures.
• Arriving too late or too early. Arriving flustered and unkempt.