Interviews can be quite scary and difficult, but they're much better when you're prepared and enthusiastic. An employer is looking for someone who is dependable, self-motivated and is self disciplined enough to arrive at work on time and give a fair day's work for a fair day's wage.
An interview also gives you the chance to find out if the job and employer live up to your expectations, too. You're interviewing them as much as they're interviewing you.
Common interview questions:
Tell me about yourself. Leave out the life history - this is a chance to show them you're normal and break the ice.
What are your long-term aims? Keep them relevant to the job you're after. Ambition is a good quality, so don't hold back.
What can you bring to this job/company? Highlight your relevant skills, strengths, experience and qualities.
What are your strengths/weaknesses? Confidently state two or three strengths that match the job and one 'positive' weakness, like 'I'd like to have more skills and training in a particular area' – e.g. Excel.
What do you enjoy most/least? What you enjoy most should be relevant to the job. What you enjoy least should be something you have no power over, such as those days when you achieve very little due to cancellations, interruptions and circumstances beyond your control. However, let them know that, though you dislike it, you can handle it.
What's your greatest achievement so far? Keep it relevant to the job. Focus on achievements that highlight your skills and strengths. What would you like to be better at? Let them know you're open to developing your skills in relevant areas.
How would your colleagues describe you? Don't be bigheaded, but don't put yourself down. Be honest - and try to use real positive examples from your last appraisal, school report or discussion with a college counsellor/tutor.
Why should we give you this job? Unless this is the opening question, think about how your answers have gone down so far, and what you've been asked. For instance, if they've asked a lot about your teamwork skills, make these one of the strengths you highlight in your answer.
