Top Tips for Boosting Pre-Interview Confidence

• September 26, 2017

The mere thought of going for a job interview, is enough to reduce even the most confident amongst us to a bag of nerves, especially if its been years since you last did it. At Kirkland Associates, our Consultants have masses of experience in helping candidates to prepare for interviews and will do everything we can to ensure that you are at your best before your big moment.
Below are some simple tips guaranteed to boost your pre- interview confidence…..

Knowledge is Power!
‘Fail to Prepare and Prepare to Fail’ – A cliché but SO true! One of the most common reasons for ‘negative’ feedback from our clients is that the candidate was under prepared. It is crucial that you take the time to ‘swot up’ as much as possible - this will naturally reduce some of your nerves. Ask your Consultant if there is anything specific you should be thinking about, but generally, you should be considering the following:

• The Company – do your research! Turning up to an interview with no knowledge about the company is complete ‘no no’.
• The role – think specifically about why you are interested in the role and how your existing skills and experience apply.
• Your strengths – people often find it difficult to sell themselves, but that is what they are looking for. You will often be asked to give examples to support your answers, so have a good think about these.
• Prepare some questions – it is so important to have some questions to ask at the end of your interview. These could relate to the company, the culture, the role, training or the team in which you’d be working….the list is endless! It is perfectly acceptable to write questions down on a notepad and take them in with you (this shows that you’ve thought it through and is one less thing to remember!). It goes without saying that questions regarding holidays and sick pay should be avoided.
 
Dress to Impress!
Being well presented for an interview is not only crucial in making that all important ‘good first impression’, it will also help you to feel good about yourself. These days, many companies have a more relaxed day to day dress code, but unless otherwise instructed, you should always choose business dress.
Where possible, cover up tattoos and remove facial piercings. Too much make up, chipped or garish nail polish and crazy hair styles should also be avoided.
Of course, it is important for you to feel comfortable, so don’t wear ill-fitting clothes or shoes that you cannot walk in!

Be on Time!
I’m sure that for most people, this is stating the obvious, but you would be amazed at how often candidates are late for interviews – an instant black mark.
Make sure you know exactly where you are going and aim to arrive 5-10 minutes early – more if you are relying on public transport or travelling during rush hour. You can always grab a coffee somewhere close by or just get some fresh air before reporting in, if necessary.
Of course, there is occasionally (rarely!) a genuine reason for being late and sometimes this is out of a candidate’s control. If you find yourself starting to panic about arriving on time, make sure you inform your Consultant or contact the company directly, as soon as possible. 

It’s a Two-Way Street
Believe it or not, interviews can be almost as nerve wracking for the Interviewer, as the Interviewee. Finding the right employee for their organisation is so important and they will want you to like them, as much as you want them to like you!