Interview Advice

Pre-Interview

Conduct Research on the employer, hiring manager and job opportunity.

The best place to find out about your potential employer is on their website.
LinkedIn is a great place to do research on a hiring manager and his/her background.
The career section on the company website will let you know the details about the job you are interviewing for and what the company is expecting of you.
You will be more confident and at ease during the interview if you have this vital information.

Think of questions you might be asked and prepare your responses.

The internet is a great source for finding the most common questions asked during an interview.
Think about how you would answer these questions and practice on how you might respond to them.
Being interviewed can be nerve-wracking, but if you take time to prepare, you will feel calmer and more confident.

Think of questions you would like to ask your interviewer.

It is likely you will be asked whether you have any questions for the interviewer; therefore, it is a good idea to have a few prepared!
Don’t make these questions about you (in other words, don’t ask about pay, benefits, vacation time, etc.) This is your opportunity to understand more about the position, the hiring manager, the company culture and what the key success factors look like to achieve outstanding performance in the position.

Have your paperwork ready.

Bring a few copies of your resume and references to the interview.
Ensure you have recently contacted all your references, updated their contact information, and received approval to use them as a reference.

Dress appropriately.

These days it is appropriate to dress business casual for an interview but you should still dress for the position. For example, if you are applying to be a lawyer, a suit may be necessary.
If possible, inquire what the dress code is and dress appropriately.
Look professional and put together, this may make the difference between you and other candidates.

Be on time.

There is nothing worse than arriving to an interview late so please arrive on time.
Arriving too early can have a negative impact as well; try to be no more than 5 minutes early.
If you don’t know where you are going, drive to the interview location before so you know where you can park and how long it takes to get there.
If the unthinkable happens and you are late for whatever reason, call the interviewer and let them know how late you will be, as they may then need to cancel or postpone your interview due to other commitments.

Treat everyone with respect.

Your attitude throughout the interview is crucial and will be evaluated.
Introduce yourself, greet everyone, and thank them for seeing you.
It is important to listen carefully to the interviewer in order to answer the questions accurately.
It is OK to pause if you need to take a few seconds to formulate a clear and thoughtful answer to a question.
If you didn’t hear the question or did not understand the question, ask for clarification.
Giving an answer to a question that was not asked can make the interviewer think you might not be competent for the position when you simply did not hear them properly.
Speak clearly and don’t rush; it could be harmful if the interviewer cannot hear or understand your responses.
Be positive, confident, and make eye contact.
Never disparage a former employer.
Try to answer the questions precisely and don’t go on and on about something the interviewer has not asked you about.
If given the opportunity, ask the interviewer an insightful question about the company or position, which will show that you have prepared for the interview.
Remember to be yourself, show your confidence, know your strengths, and be genuine and honest with the interviewer.

In certain circumstances it is suitable to send a thank you email to show the interviewer your appreciation and professionalism.
Let the interviewer know if the position is of no interest to you, this will also show professionalism.
If you have not heard back after 1-2 weeks, it is acceptable to follow-up with an inquiry email or phone call.