Month: December 2018

Have you got a job interview coming up? Thinking of looking for a new job in the New Year? Haven’t been to a job interview for a while? Is it your first interview?

If you’re not sure where to start with preparing yourself, or you’re not sure it’s possible to prepare yourself, here are five tips for making sure you are ready for that all important day.

1. Make sure you know the company

If you don’t know much about the company, start reading up on them before the interview. A good place to look first is on their website.

2. Have background knowledge of the Industry

If you already think you know a lot about the industry, then try to sharpen up your knowledge.

If you don’t have much knowledge about the industry because you’re making a career move – do some research! You can do this by speaking to people in the industry or you can do some online research.

3. Think about your strengths and weaknesses

This is a question that most interviewers ask. Some people become a little bit stuck or are nervous about what to say about themselves. It’s sometimes hard to tell someone what you’re good at and let’s face it, you don’t want to tell them that you’re not so good at anything, it’s a job interview after all! The interviewers are going to appreciate honesty. If you come across honest, they will appreciate it.

Think about what strengths you will be bringing to the table if they decide to hire you! These might be organisational skills, timekeeping, knowledge of the industry, knowledge about the job, experience, decision-making skills etc. If there is anything within those skill sets you aren’t 100% confident with, have a think about that too. Make sure that if the interviewer does ask you what your weaknesses are, you say, for example, ‘I would love to improve my decision-making skills’ rather than ‘I’m not very good at decision making’

Always keep it positive!

4. Make sure you know your CV

The only thing the Interviewers know about you is the information that is on your CV and on your application you filled out for the job. Make sure you know what experiences on your CV are relevant for the role you are applying for. This will help you prepare for any questions they might have for you.

5. Write down any questions you have

This might be about the job or even about the company. The interviewers will be impressed that you want to know a bit more about what they do as a company, and they will also appreciate that you have questions about the job you are applying for!

A few other things to think about:

• First impressions are vital – dress smartly.
• Plan your travel to be early to your interview, not just on time!
• If you have any work or evidence that would support your application, bring it with you.
• A good handshake is always a positive start.
• Relax, smile often, be friendly and try to calm your nerves.

Looking for a job in the Rail, Property, Construction or Water & Utilities industry?

Click here to view our latest jobs!