by Steve Martin

Created on: February 04, 2007   Last Updated: May 27, 2010

I have carried out many interviews and would give the following tips:

1. The obvious one - dress smartly and turn up on time.

2. Show interpersonal skills. This does not mean being hugely extrovert. It simply means smile and make eye contact.

3. Never, ever give a negative response to a question. For example, many people, when asked why they want a job, talk about being unhappy in their current role. This comes over very badly. Focus on the positives: i.e. the interviewer wants to know why you want the job being advertised, not why you hate your present job.

4. Answer the questions asked. Many applicants come with a set of answers prepared and will talk about what they want to talk about, irrespective of the question asked.

5. Don't bluff. If you are asked about an aspect of the work to which you don't know the answer, attempting to bluster your way through it will not work. There is no problem in stating that you do not have a particular skill but are very keen to learn.

6. Have some questions about the job ready. Candidates are not expected to be experts about the company but an interviewer wants to feel reassured that they have thought about the job.

7. Ask about training/development opportunities. Employers want flexible employees and flexible employees are those who are willing to learn.

8. Be self-critical prior to the interview. If your cv/resume shows a potted career history (a few months here, a few months there), identify a reason for this. If you don't an interviewer may assume the worst. There may have been family reasons why you had to change jobs several times. It may be that you were working towards finding the perfect opportunity (i.e. the one you are applying for).

9. Finally, remember that there is an element of luck in any interview. No matter how well you do, there may be another candidate who is perfect for the job. So, to some extent, the final decision is out of your hands. Therefore, relax, do your best, and do not take a negative outcome personally.

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