Leave your interview nerves at university.
Our latest blog is aimed to help anyone who has recently graduated and has landed their first interview.
We know interviews can be a daunting process, particularly if it is the first time you’ve had an interview. Let us help remove those butterflies with some common questions and preparation you can do ahead of your interview to make sure you are prepared.
Don’t forget the interview starts the minute you walk into the building, treat everyone in the office with respect and always remain professional whether you’re speaking to front of house receptionist or the Chief Executive!
Posture
Practice good posture in the interview – when you are sitting down make sure you put your head up, shoulders back and don’t slouch! You can also mirror or be guided by your interviewers posture.
Its normal to be nervous!
Don’t worry, a lot of people get nervous when they attend interviews, however it is how you manage your nerves that count. Stay calm and take a deep breath before you enter the room. But also, make sure you pause and think about the question they are asking you before you answer. A moment of silence to gather your thoughts will result in a well-articulated answer.
Give a great first impression
Make sure your introduction counts, when you are meeting with your interviewer ensure you pause, make eye contact and give a firm handshake. Dress to impress – this doesn’t necessarily mean “suited and booted”, but dress professionally and avoid casual clothing and/or wearing of hats. It may sound simple, but make sure you know the names of the people in the room (and remember them!) throughout the interview. Think about an authentic introduction line before your interview to help with the nerves, have it planned out.
Think about some interesting small talk
To break the ice or between questions there will often be the chance for small talk. Make sure you think about some current topics and conversations that will be relevant to your interviewer that you can chat about. Perhaps leave the party talk to your friends and stick with professional topics or relevant industry news.
Pre-empt some of the questions
You’ll never know every question they will ask you but having some answers to common questions is a good place to start. Common questions that get asked often in interviews are:
– Why do you want to work here?
– What do you know about the company?
How to talk about your experience
Make sure you talk about things you’ve learnt in your previous role and remember don’t speak negatively about your previous workplace. If this is your first role out of university think about some of the experience and scenarios that took place in your degree to use as experience.
Questions for the employer
You’ll probably get asked at the end of the interview if you have any questions about the role, think about it like you’ve been successful and it’s your first day on the job – make sure you do some homework about the company, so you have some relevant questions to ask. Some common ones might be:
– What do you like best about working here?
– What is a business goal you are working towards?
At Archway Recruitment we love helping candidates map out their career and land their first job out of university. We have recently placed Sam Baylis into a role at Department of Corrections. ·
It must have been the first time you have worked with a recruitment consultancy to find a job, how did you find the experience?
Working with Archway was a seamless process. They were great at communicating and ensured I was looked after every step of the way. My recruiters Maddy and Matt were exceptional and gave me the confidence I needed to promote myself and successfully find a job, I highly recommend their services for anyone trying to kick start their career.
What does landing your first job mean to you?
Landing my first job puts into practice what I have been learning for the past 3 years at university. It has always been a long term goal of mine to be a part of the professional sector, I’m super excited to get into the workforce and I look forward to the opportunities and challenges that the future holds.
How do you think recruitment helps you within the job seeking process?
Archway recruitment unlocked a network of people for me to establish myself with when the job market seemed very tough to crack. Once landing an interview, I was given interview questions and told what companies look for in graduates. This was reassuring and I was able to prepare great content for my interview. The team at Archway told me to be myself and showcase your enthusiasm for the role, which helped me relax in an otherwise nerve racking situation.
Do you have any tips for other graduates looking for jobs?
Don’t overthink the job application process. Recruiting staff are looking for the best things about you, it’s normal to make a few errors! Try to be yourself when attending an interview, know the ins and outs of the company and what your role requires. Most importantly, be enthusiastic and show you are highly motivated and ready to take on challenges.
Want to see how Archway Recruitment can help you secure your job out of university? Chat to the team today.
