Turn up at the right place at the right time
This is a must! You would be amazed at how often people are late for interviews. It is important to carefully read your confirmation email/letter explaining the location and time of your interview. You should always plan in advance how you are getting there and how long this will take. Always aim to be there 15 minutes before the interview time. You are always better being early than late. You can always do a trial run at the same time of your interview on a different day to familiarise yourself with the journey.
Interview clothing
This is not just having one smart outfit lying at the bottom of your wardrobe that you have not worn for a couple of years. Make sure you try these on to check they are still fit for purpose and allow time to buy new ones if any problems. Always make sure they are still in good shape, washed and ironed in advance. You can always ask a friend or family member for a second opinion.
Preparing answers
Couple of days before the interview make sure you have carefully read the person specification/job advert again. This will keep it fresh in your mind. Try and make time to go over some example questions with a friend, family member, support worker or employment worker if you have one. If not you can try writing them down and saying them out loud. You can find some mock interview questions on the internet. It is important you have your own personal examples and these are structured, so they are easier for the interviewer to follow.
You can prepare your examples using the STAR technique. The STAR technique makes it easier for you to structure them.
See video below for more information.
Researching the company
It is always advisable to know something about the company that you are interviewing for, as this often comes up. Sometimes this can be as straight as “What do you know about the company?” however, they might be more subtle and ask “Why do you think you are the right candidate for the role?”. Both questions give you the opportunity to talk through why you would be a good match for the company. You could research recent projects, changes within the company, or recent news which can be found on most company websites. A good match would include experience, values and skills. Remember an interview is a two way process, it helps you decide if the job is really the one for you!
Preparing documents
9 times out of 10 you are asked to bring along documents to an interview to prove your identification. Most commonly you are asked for your birth certificate, passport, driving license and/or proof of address. You better dig out those old qualifications from the drawer as you are often asked for these too! It is important again to give yourself enough time to order new ones if you have lost them.
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