Ace your job or university interview!!

Hi, over the next few weeks I will be publishing regular articles on how to ace your job / university / MBA, or PhD interview. If you would like to book a lesson with me, I will provide you with a 28 page document that I have written with some sample questions and advice on how to answer them. In these articles, you will find a group of questions and the appropriate advice on how to answer them, and in some cases you will even find some sample answers. During a lesson, I will go through the questions with you, let you answer as if you were in an interview environment and then check, and if necessary, correct the content of your answer. I hope you find the following information useful and I really look forward to seeing you online if you choose a class with me! I am also offering a 20% discount for new students for ANY of my lessons.

GENERAL INTERVIEW TIPS:

Be punctual, never be late. If being late is unavoidable, call ahead and let your interviewer know with a credible reason and an apology.
If you interact with anyone in the company prior to the interview (e.g. the receptionist), make sure you are polite at all times.
Dress appropriately, in most cases, formal clothing is required to make the best impression.
Upon entering the interview room, greet the interviewer(s) politely and if appropriate, shake hands and maintain eye-contact.
Sit comfortably in an upright position. Do not fidget or show any nervous irritation.
Speak clearly, answer questions directly (do not ramble!) and politely, maintain eye-contact with the interviewer(s).
Do not show aggression, even if the questioning style is aggressive or provocative.
Always take any opportunity to ask questions, and if appropriate, use a pen and paper to note down any useful information.
At the end of the interview, thank your interviewer(s) for their time and tell them you look forward to hearing from them.
For Skype interviews: Make sure you are in a quiet environment with no background noises or people coming or going. Sit in a position with a plain ‘non-busy’ background. Prior to the Skype call, make a test call on Skype to ensure your sound, microphone and video are all working correctly. Try to look smart and dress appropriately: even though it is a video call, your visual appearance is still important. Upon answering the call, ask the interviewer if they can hear and see you well and make any adjustments as necessary. If your interviewer cannot understand any terms or words you say, type them into the chat box feature. You can also transfer any relevant files over Skype, or share your screen to present data or other important information.