Very often it is easy to find helpful tips and advice for employees looking to attend an interview but as an interviewer you may also need some assistance.

When planning to carry out interviews, it is all about preparation. You will probably have already read through all the CV’s and covering letters of the applicants that are going to be attending. I would strongly recommend highlighting any points on their CV that you wish to discuss with them in detail. This may be gap in employment or extra qualifications that you want to explore further.

Make sure that you have a set of questions in which you want to ask everyone. This will give you something to compare when you are looking through all the candidates to find out who you want to invite back for a second interview or offer the job to. It may be handy to have someone else present at the interview so you can bounce ideas off each other afterwards.

Knowing what to wear to a job interview can be a nightmare. You need to appear formal and smartly dressed without being too over the top and making yourself feel uncomfortable. Most interviews take place in an office environment so therefore you would be expected to wear something like a suit or smart skirt / trousers and top.

You are not only dressing to impress the interviewer but also to make yourself feel confident allowing you to sell your skills and experience and reasons why you are suited to the job to the potential employer.

Make sure that you plan your outfit and get it ready in advance. Too many people have an idea of what they are going to wear but then on the morning of their interview get it out of the wardrobe to find that it has a mark on it or doesn’t fit them anymore. This can make a stressful situation even worse.

When attending an interview you are bound to be nervous and believe it or not a bit of nerves can actually be a good thing, as it helps you to stay focused and seem genuine, however it’s when these nerves get the better of you that things can quickly fall apart.
So here’s 4 top tips of things to remember whilst going to an interview:-
Don’t talk too fast – this happens to lots of people when they are nervous and can be hard to control, take a deep breath and take your time in answering the interviewer’s questions.
Don’t be afraid to ask the interview to explain a question – Often when we are in an interview situation and asked a question that we don’t understand the temptation can be to just ramble on and blag your way through hoping the interviewer won’t notice, this is not a good idea, you’d be much better off simply saying, “sorry I’m not sure I understand what you mean, would you mind rephrasing the question?”
Always make eye contact – this shows that you are confident and that you are fully listening to the interviewer concentrating on the things you are being asked.
And lastly, smile, a smile relaxes you and the interviewer and can help to show that you are happy and confident.

Searching for and applying for a new job can be a stressful experience for anyone. It is a decision made both on your part and by your employer, a decision which will come to define your life from that moment forward. Therefore, investing as much time and energy in finding good employment opportunities is your first step. After this, it is important to find out as much as possible about the places and positions where you are applying. One really good opportunity to do this is in interviews. It may be counter intuitive to some, but expressing an interest in your potential employers business practices before you actually join is a good way to establish your interest in the eyes of the employer. Letting a interview become an exercise in give and take between you and the employer is the second step. Allowing yourself to be drawn in by good work benefits and pay is a big no no as well. Not that those things are bad, but focus on those to the exclusion of everything else is a recipe for disaster. Finding out after the fact that the working environment is bad, is a disappointing experience, regardless of how much money they are paying you to be there. It is particularly disappointing when the employer you had an interview with is the cause of this, and you should have noticed the signs indicating that fact. Finding a job which can become a place where you could spend the rest of your life cannot be reduced to its basic principles. Acquiring an understanding of what is expected of you within the organisation, and what you can expect  from the organisation, as fast as possible, will help to ensure that you make an informed decision before you accept a position.

One thing to remember at your job, is to always have a positive attitude. The consequences of behaving inappropriately or whining at your job, even when the job wasn’t what you expected, and is not something you can see your self enjoying, could be dire. If you leave a negative impression with your employer, they will not be willing to give you a positive reference to your prospective employer, which can quickly damage your chances of getting the job. One of the things which employers consider to be of paramount importance with any employee is that they maintain a positive attitude, and don’t scupper the team dynamic. If you can’t demonstrate the emotional and professional fortitude in any situation, it will reflect badly on you. If this poor showing of your skills is the only reference for your work ethic and abilities, then it will severely damage your chances of acquiring the job your seeking.