You’ve got an interview, congratulations!

You’ve got an interview, congratulations – it means the employer likes what they’ve read or seen so far and want to know more about you. Although they can be a bit daunting, here’s a few tips to help you interview to your best.
 

1. Be yourself - an employer is going to be looking for a good fit to their team and it’ll also help you decide if it’s the job for you. Plus you will come across more naturally and make the next tip easier.
2. Relax - okay, it’s easier said than done but interviewers are human, we know that people are going to be nervous and good ones will try and help you be at ease.
3. Smile - it’ll help you relax & make you look positive.
4. Make eye contact & engage with the interviewer - sometimes they’ll be head down taking notes but when you can, do.
5. Take a bottle of water with you - it’ll not only help keep you talking, but can be an invaluable prop to buy time; when you need to gather your thoughts, take a sip of water.
6. Research & prepare - find out what you can about the company, the culture & the job. Engage the interviewer in conversation.
7. Practice, practice & practice some more - have a kit bag of answers that you can call upon, helping you answer with confidence & in a relaxed way.
8. It’s a conversation, not a presentation - yes, you need to get your answers out there & land your key points but you also need to take the interviewer with you. Remember to pause & check their understanding.
9. If in doubt, ask - if you’re not sure what the question was driving at, or maybe have an answer that doesn’t quite fit then ask the interviewer to repeat the question or check your example will fit. 
10. Don’t assume that interviewers know things, whether it’s the background to an answer, the work you’ve done, the significance of events or what abbreviations mean. Remember they’ll be looking for evidence on your ability, so don’t take a chance that they know already.

 
And, finally, try to remember that the interviewer is a human being too & that at some point they’ll have been in your seat. They know what you’re going through.