Congratulations, your interview has been arranged.
So now what?
1. Preparation Is Key
Research the client by looking on-line and asking me any burning questions that you have before you go to your meeting. Make sure you have a good understanding of what the company do, what their vision and values are and, of course, where they are located.
2. Dress the Part
One of the things you need to consider when you are attending an interview is that first impressions do count. You should feel comfortable in your choice of outfit whilst looking smart and well presented. We recommend that you keep your outfit plain, with no loud distracting prints, and as neutral as possible. Navy, black and grey tend to work well, with a plain cream, white, pale blue, grey or black shirt, blouse or top. Understated yet smart.
3. Time is of the Essence!
As part of your research, ensure that you know where the company is located, the best way to get there by car, where to park and how long it will take. If you are travelling on public transport make sure you know the times of buses or trains, how long it takes, where to get off and then the distance from the stop to the clients site. I recommend that you get to the location at least half an hour beforehand, and then enter the building 10 minutes before your interview time.
4. The Meet and Greet
You will more than likely be greeted by someone at reception so make sure that you are friendly, smile and try to be engaging. When your interviewer comes to reception to greet you, stand tall and extend your hand in a firm, but not crushing, handshake. Make good eye contact.
From the reception area, you will most likely walk towards the interview room, so feel free to make small talk such as you found it easy to get there, what nice offices the company has, etc.
5. The Interview
Your preparation in advance should give you additional confidence to answer questions in a considered and articulate manner. Remember an interview is a two way meeting where the potential employer gets to find out more about you and your abilities. It is also an opportunity for you to discover more about whether this is the right place for you to feel successful and happy in your role - with this in mind, try to relax and enjoy meeting someone new.
Social Media Guidelines – How to Not Trip Yourself up Online
Social media is now a key part of finding a job, and its likely everyone has used social media in some way to help find a new role. What is less well known is how much influence your own social media presence can have on your prospective new employer.
We’ve put together a few tips to help you avoid the most common pitfalls:
1. Check Your Profile Pictures
No matter how much you’ve utilised Facebook’s privacy settings, your profile pic is still visible so make sure it is a good one! A casual pic is fine, but be careful of using a photo that could be misunderstood by a prospective employer.
2. Be Careful What You Say!
You’d be amazed by what we’ve seen people write about their colleagues or previous employers. Nobody wants to hire a new employee who takes to Twitter to air their grievances…
3. Google Yourself
Go on, give it a go. If there is anything you think might be unappealing to future employers on the first page of results, take steps to remove it. Old tweets, Facebook posts, things you’ve reviewed – they have a habit of sticking around on the web a long time after you’ve forgotten about them.
4. Social Media Doesn’t End at Facebook and Twitter
These days employers are as likely to check your Instagram and TikTok feed (amongst others) so it’s worth checking all sites and apps that you post to.
As with everything, let common sense guide you. A good rule of thumb – if you wouldn’t say it in an interview, don’t say it online.