Please share any interview advice!

[chickencooped]

Hi everyone!

I have an interview on Friday this week for a job I really want. Apparently it's meant to be quite an informal meeting then if they think I fit well with their culture/team, I'll have more technical interviews.

I haven't done any interviews for about 5 years so would hugely appreciate any advice! Especially any less common advice that you've found helpful.

Thanks in advance :)

I don't mean this to sound stroppy but this question does get asked very regularly so it might be worth looking back through old threads as there's loads and loads of excellent advice, here's just a few recent ones

www.mumsnet.com/talk/employment_issues/4623546-interview?reply=

www.mumsnet.com/talk/work/4610190-interviewersinterviewees?reply=

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4646631-interview-tomorrow?reply=

www.mumsnet.com/talk/work/4608480-interview-help?reply=

I think my advice is quite basic really but it would be prepare well (even if they say it's an 'informal chat' you still should be prepared to give a little spiel about yourself and why you want the job, have a few examples of things you've achieved in current/past roles you can talk about and show you have a good knowledge of the company, industry etc), don't worry too much about seeming nervous, nerves are good, they show you care and most reasonable people fully understand that an interview is an artificial and formal setting so you will come across a bit stiffer or shyer than in 'real life', plus the more you worry you are seeming nervous the worse it will get, so do a bit of fake it til you make it. Don't forget to smile and make eye contact with them, and although it sounds a bit lame I practice a little bit of small talk too in case there's a long ride in a lift or walk to the interview room before we start, I always feel much better if that part doesn't pass in awkward silence. Just something boring and safe about the weather or my journey or the part of town the office is in or something. In the interview itself, don't rush into answering questions, I always ask for a glass of water and if I need a second to think I take a long sip while preparing my answer (although if you get shaky hands be careful not to knock it over!)...

Good luck!