In "Interview tips I", we looked at preparation for the interview - now how about the interview itself?

Here I will discuss these aspects:

1. Practical matters


2. Visualisation and approach


3. Answering questions and speaking


4. Body language

1 Practical matters
Research has shown that the decision to hire may be made in recruiters' minds within the first moments of meeting the candidate. So your presentation is vital. It's important to be dressed appropriately for the type of employer you're applying to - whether you dress formally or not will depend on the industry. In general it's probably better to err on the side of being too formally dressed. The chances are you will already have a good idea of the type of image which you need to project for the particular area, but you can glean extra clues from the company's website, and especially if you have any contacts who work for the company.

Make sure you arrive in the area early, so that if anything goes wrong you won't be late; however, it's best not to actually make your way to the employer's office more than five minutes before the allotted time - too early is nearly as bad as too late! And also remember to turn your mobile phone off.

2 Visualisation and approach:
If it's helpful, think of the interview as a business conversation, between two (or more) professionals, who both wish for the right outcome - the interviewer(s) wants to find the best person or people for the job; while you, the interviewee want to make sure the company and the opportunity are right for you. It's also a selling occasion though - you want the interviewer to 'buy you', and to feel that they're making a purchase with all the qualities they could desire, whether these are enthusiasm, reliability, fantastic communication skills, or the ability to multi-task like a fiend, for example.

Remember also that the interviewer has a high degree of responsibility in choosing the right person; either directly because the graduate they hire will be working for them (and therefore the calibre of the candidate will have an impact on their own performance), or indirectly if they are a human resources representative who is recruiting to join another department (whose hiring choice will be assessed). So it might be helpful to visualise this from the interviewers angle, and try to support them making the right decision of hiring you. Try to convey the kind of qualities you would look for in a dependable and effective candidate, if you were recruiting.

In general, if you are courteous, professional and enthusiastic, this is an excellent basis from which to use the interview to display your aptness for the job.

3 Answering questions and speaking:
When answering questions, make sure you're generous with your responses - volunteering information, rather than simply giving yes or no responses. Interviewers will be asking questions aimed at drawing answers from you, so this won't be too difficult.

Avoid the other extreme though, of being too verbose. Ensure your answers are addressed to the question which was asked, without too many digressions. If you find yourself wandering off at a tangent, try and get back to the point, and make an effort to avoid this in future answers. It's ok to make mistakes if you turn them around; but carrying on regardless is a no-no.

When speaking, fillers like 'um', 'ah', are quite natural in a potentially nervous situation like an interview; but if you can be aware of them, try to stop yourself doing them as far as possible. And try to talk at a measured pace, but varying your intonation so that you're not speaking in a monotone.

The main thing to stress is that the more you "be yourself", the more comfortable and relaxed you will feel, and the better you will come across. The aspects I've mentioned are just things to be conscious of, but only if doing so doesn't distract you from feeling comfortable.

4 Body language:
Throughout, you should try and be aware of the following:

• Make sure you smile and give a firm handshake;


• Maintain good posture (sitting straight etc); don't slouch.


• Make frequent eye contact (but without staring!);


• While talking use measured hand movements, rather than being too exaggerated, or crossing your arms.


• If someone enters the room while you're seated, you should always stand to shake hands with them.

All these aspects can be practised, and become more natural the more interview experiences you have.

The end of the interview
Always end the interview on a positive note. After asking the questions you prepared or which came up over the course of the interview, reiterate your enthusiasm for the position (if you're still enthusiastic!).

Additionally you might wish to ask when you can expect to hear the result of the application, if this hasn't already been said.

After the interview
You may be offered the job, or invited to a further round of interviews or other assessments, or unfortunately turned down. If the latter, be sure to get feedback on your performance and on your application - this way you can ensure that the interview is a constructive experience. Employers should be more than happy to provide feedback. Treat the whole experience as a learning exercise. Then go onto the next application, remembering that interviews do get easier!

In conclusion - go for it!
Do your preparation; maintain a good focus; remember everyone's in the same boat - and then just give it your best shot! You've got nothing to lose as there will always be plenty more jobs to apply for, and plenty to learn from the experience, so concentrate on making sure you don't have any regrets afterwards, by doing the best you can!