The job interview is probably the most important step you will take in your job search journey. It is your chance to show the company and hiring manager that you are the best person for the job. Feedback from thousands of interviewers we have spoken to over the years has told us that the candidates that leave the best impression are not necessarily the most qualified, but instead, those that have prepared the right way. So give yourself plenty of time to learn about the company, and prepare yourself properly.

As they say, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Here are five things you should do to help you prepare for your next interview, and five things to avoid doing.

What to do

1. Read about the company

You will be surprised what you remember simply from reading the company’s website from back to front. Make sure you also have a look at the company’s Xing and LinkedIn page, read recent news articles and watch any company videos.

2. Know the job description inside and out & how you fit

The job description is your key to question preparation. For each element of the job description, think of a relevant situation, experience or project in which you demonstrated the skills necessary to succeed in that area.

3. Remember your CV  

Your CV:  remember what is on it, remember to print it and remember to take it. Also take a pen and paper so that you can jot down notes. Not knowing what is on your CV will not only make it difficult to have a conversation about your experience, but it will give the impression that someone else wrote it, or that you made it up.

4. Dress professionally

The standard rule of thumb is to dress one level ‘up’ from what the office dress code is. That said, if employees are in suits & ties, you don’t need to wear black tie, a suit and tie will suffice. If it is casual dress, wear a collared shirt and a jacket. Clothes are not the place to ‘standout’ in an interview. Keep it professional. 

5. Come with questions

Prepare five questions to ask at the end of the interview. Two to three will most likely get covered during the interview, so with five, you have at least two questions left in order to show interest in the company and position.

What not to do

1. Be late

Many interviewers won’t even see candidates who come late.

2. Say negative things about past employers or bosses

Even if it is true, saying negative things about previous work experiences isn’t what interviewers want to hear.  They want to hear what you have learned and what good experiences you have had that you could use in your new role.

3. Enter a salary negotiation

Instead of having a salary discussion during the interview, speak to the recruiter about it beforehand so that you already know what the compensation package will likely be.

4. Nervously giggle, avoid eye contact, say ‘mmm’, fidget or slouch

You want to appear calm and confident. To do this, you need to look directly at your interviewer, sit up straight and give clear answers (even if you have to pause for a second in order to provide a considered response).

5. Wait to speak to your recruiter

Immediately after the interview, speak to your recruiter and let them know how you think it went. Give them feedback on the company and interviewer so that they are better able to negotiate your position.

 About Oliver Parks

Oliver Parks Consulting offers search-based recruitment solutions to the technology sector, specialising in the ERP, CRM, CMS, ECM, BI and Open Source Technology spaces. The firm’s multilingual consultants operate in narrowly-defined niche market segments, enabling them to gain extensive knowledge of the people and companies operating in each technology.  Oliver Parks has a proven track-record with more than 100,000 candidates worldwide and more than 300 clients globally.