Anyone who says they don't get nervous before an interview is either very lucky or lying. Even people
who've done dozens of interviews will still say it's the most stressful and demanding part of looking
for a job.
Unfortunately, there’s no perfect way to prepare. All interviews are unique and depend very much on the
skills and demands of the interviewers. The format can vary, too: some interviews are one-to-one, some
have more than one interviewer, and some include
a group exercise (where interviewers observe the way candidates work together). You may also need to do
a short test before your interview.
Don’t worry, though – most interviewers will let you know beforehand if they’d like you to take part in
any tests or group discussions. And whatever the format of your interview, it is possible to prepare
yourself for the process. What’s more, if you
do the groundwork, you’ll feel more confident and perform better at interview than someone who relies on
a “spur-of-the-moment” approach.
While no two interviews are exactly the same, every employer will want to find out whether:
-
you have the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job
-
your experience indicates that you can use these skills successfully
-
you have the right personality to do the job, and would fit into their organisation.
It’s important to keep these points in mind when you’re preparing for the interview, and during the
interview itself. If all your answers to their questions focus on these three things, you’ll do just
fine!