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Confirming your
acceptance
When you are offered an interview, write back
immediately, thanking the person and confirming
the date, time and place. Arrive at least ten
minutes before your appointment. If you are
going to be late, telephone and apologise. Be
courteous to the gatekeeper and receptionist, as
they may be asked for their opinion of you.
Researching the facts
Get as much information as possible about
your prospective employer. Telephone and ask for
any brochures or literature and collect them if
necessary. On the evening before the interview
re-read this information. Write down at least
four points about the organization and its
products or services and memorize them. This
knowledge will greatly increase your
self-confidence at interview.
The interviewer's assessment of you
Professional interviewers will try to obtain
an objective assessment of candidates, by
considering the following points:
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...Past experience
and achievements.
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...Special
abilities and aptitudes
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...Interests and
leisure activities
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...Disposition and
personal characteristics
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...Physical
appearance and bearing
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...General
intelligence
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How you are rated,
particularly on the first three depends on how
well you have prepared yourself
Five key points for the interview
Select five points from your background,
education or experience, which are relevant, or
which show initiative. Write these down,
memorize them and make sure you talk about them
at interview. An example could be:
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...Fluency in a
foreign language.
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...Experience of
part-time jobs.
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...A relevant
research project.
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...Collection of
money for charity.
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...Membership of a
local club.
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Tricky questions
You maybe asked about your major personal
strengths. Select something, which is relevant,
such as: getting on well with other people,
always completing a job properly, etc. If asked
about your weak points, choose one that still
shows you in a positive light, e.g. 'I take on
too much work'. Just before the interview, you
may be asked to take a series of tests. Prepare
yourself by working through a book of these
tests now. If you take a personality test, give
honest answers, not ones that you think will
improve your score. In any test, work quickly
but without rushing - quality is more important
than quantity!
Giving value for money
You have to convince an employer that you
are worth employing and that you have the
capacity for hard work and a readiness for
accepting change or further training. Your
general attitude to life is one of the most
important aspects on which your future employer
will assess you.
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