Job Interview Tips For Young People

Being invited to attend a job interview can be nerve-wracking. After all, the employer is deciding whether or not they are going to offer you a job. However, with the right preparation and a positive mindset, you have got every chance of succeeding and impressing the interviewer. 

Here are some tips and advice to help you succeed at a job interview. 

Research the job and the company. Before you attend any job interview you should research the job and the company. Read the job description, company website, company reports and other (reputable) news stories about the company. Find out about the history, values and mission statement, the industry and if the company carries out any charity work. Interviewers will want to see that you know about the company and what the job involves as it demonstrates you are genuinely interested. 

Take part in practice interviews. If you have never had a job interview before and would like to get some practice, you may wish to take part in a mock interview. This is when a person will pretend to be an employer who is interviewing you for a job and will ask you some questions. Ask a teacher, friend or family member if they will help you. 

Know yourself and your skills. Think about your own skills, qualities and qualifications and which of these relate to the job. Read over the job description and identify what the employer is looking for. Try to demonstrate that you have these skills during your answers.

Dress Appropriately. Decide what you will wear and make sure this is ready in plenty of time. You should wear smart business dress to the interview especially if it is for a job in a formal corporate environment. For some job interviews, it may be acceptable to wear smart casual. To get an idea of what to wear, research the company to find out about their workplace environment and dress code. If in doubt, it is best to stick with smart clothes. 

Switch your phone off. Make sure you switch your phone off before you go into the interview. The last thing you want is your ringtone to start blaring during the interview. 

Ask questions. At the end of the interview, you will be asked if you have any questions. Don’t say no! Make sure you have a couple of questions prepared beforehand and pick one or two to ask at the end. Keep them focused on the job or the company and avoid questions about salary or holidays. 

Examples of good questions include: 

• Where do you see the company in five years?
• What is your favourite part about working here? 
• What is a typical day like here?

Send a thank you letter. After the interview, it is good manners to send a thank you letter or email to the interviewer. This lets them know that you appreciated the opportunity to meet them and reiterates your interest in the job.