Bristol Job Vacancies – Job Interview Tips

Being well prepared for an interview for your Bristol Job will help to mitigate the fear and dread many candidates feel when attending interviews. There are several things one can do to prepare because remember “Fail to prepare, prepare to Fail”! Here is a short list.

Research the company

Researching the company before you send your CV is certainly recommended but definitely has to be done when you receive an appointment for an interview. Knowledge is everything so find out as much as you can about the product and services they provide as this will reflect very well for you and will relax your interviewer as well (yes, they also get nervous).

           Prepare for your interview

As your interview day approaches prepare your route, make sure you know exactly where it is and how long it will take you to get there. Allow time for any hold ups with traffic and arrive 5 minutes before hand, switch of your mobile phone and take a breath mint to freshen up. Tardiness will have a strong negative impact with any prospective employer and could ruin your chances of a great Job. Always take a copy of your CV with you.

          Dressing properly for an interview

First impressions are everything at an interview and you only get one chance. Before you say hello they will have made many conscious and unconscious decisions based upon your appearance which will determine how the rest of the interview is conducted. A negative opinion will be very difficult to overcome so a well groomed and clean appearance should be the benchmark.

Professional level interview

Dress should be conservative, for men a smart suit and shirt and tie, ladies a smart blouse and skirt. Shoes and hair are often overlooked but are important as a scruffy pair of shoes and dishevelled hair will detract from the whole ensemble. You must scrutinize every aspect of your appearance to achieve the well groomed and efficient look.

Non professional interview

This type of interview can call for more judgement compared to the professional interview as there are many different types of occupations such as labourers, restaurant workers shop assistants and skilled jobs. Best bet is smart casual, smart shirt or blouse, slacks or skirt and clean shoes. Even if the staff dress code is very casual it is best to make a good impression to the interviewer.

To be avoided at all costs

There are some adornments which will send the wrong signals to any interviewer such as heavy piercings, excessive jewellery, too much make-up, strong aftershave or perfume, excessive tattoos and provocative dress unless of course the job requires it.

            Confidence and enthusiasm

Your CV has already impressed your interviewer otherwise he would not have offered you this chance and assuming he is impressed with your attire you are ready to launch into your most important attribute -  namely confidence. Smile, be courteous and address the interviewers by name and remember you have two ears and one mouth use them in proportion. Keep your answer concise and to the point, don’t prattle on!

            Tricky interview questions

These come back to preparation: if you have not prepared for these questions and do not answer them positively and concisely the interviewer will know you have not prepared for the interview and will look at it as a lack of commitment.

Tell me about yourself

A tough question for most people and an interview environment can be daunting. Basically the interviewer would like to know a little about your career and what you would like to achieve, your hobbies and interests outside of work. Make a list of ten things that would fall into this category and then turn that into a short description that is easy to remember.

                             What are your strengths?

The same applies as above; prepare a list of your ten best attributes when it comes to work avoiding clichés but focus more on specific tasks that you have achieved in your life. Be concise and don’t ramble.

What are your weaknesses?

This is a difficult one as one needs to be positive to a potentially negative question. Don’t answer “I can’t get up in the morning” but look at ways you would like to improve the way you work such as extra training or self study to improve your knowledge and progress your career. Show you are keen to accept help for further enhancement of your career.

Have you any question about our company

The preparation and research you did on the company prior to your interview will come into its own here, the answer will always be yes and you can reaffirm what you already know about the company structure, where the company is going and what training is available in the future. Preparation Preparation!

              Salary Negotiations

Use Bristol Job Adverts to find the going rate for the job you are applying for. many similar Jobs will be posted by Bristol employment  and recruitment agencies or here on Activ Bristol.com/jobs. It is recommended to use your local area as a guide since regions vary. If you are new to this job with little experience then expect a lower salary that will reflect this fact. Moving from a similar job and bringing your expertise and greater knowledge to the job in question should be reflected by asking for a higher wage than the industry average. Doing this will show that you value your skills and are willing to offer a serious commitment. It is also a good time to ask about other company benefits such as pension schemes, cars and holidays. Always be courteous and polite and follow up the interview with a letter thanking them for their time; the employer will take this as an indication that you are still interested in the position offered.