The interview - be prepared

Unfortunately, first impressions are critical. Research shows that first impressions take 8 seconds to make. Within these precious seconds, you can either wow potential employers or dismay them. Which will it be?

The judging starts the moment you walk through the door and into your interview. Your potential employers sitting behind the desk are watching you and forming opinions even before you sit. The rest of the interview is usually spent confirming the first impression or turning this opinion around. You can go in there totally unprepared, or you can arm yourself with these helpful tips. It's your choice.

Research

Always know your potential employer. Trawl the Internet and company websites. Consult professional bodies and recruitment consultancies specialising in financial services. Speak to colleagues, family and friends. Prepare a list of questions you want to ask about the organisation and the position. This will show that you have done your homework and are interested to know more specifics. Some possible questions:

• Why is the position available? Is this a new position?
• Is there opportunity for training?
• What are the prospects for personal and professional development?
• What is the company's direction for the next five years?

Wear it right

Look good. At any interview, dress well. Not flamboyantly, but smart. It's best to assume that company culture is on the conservative side. A dark suit and tie for men and dark skirt or trousers with a jacket for women is a general guideline. Not everyone has a natural flair for style so get opinions from friends or family. Go the extra mile, even if it means splashing out a bit for the day because how you look will make a difference.

Watch that body

Many of us concentrate so much on verbal communication that we forget to pay attention to non-verbal communication - body language. You may say all the right things, but if the way you hold yourself says otherwise, it will undermine all the words that come out of your mouth. Try to relax and be comfortable. Don't slouch, lean forward slightly and maintain good eye contact with your interviewer. Watch your facial expressions - looking disinterested and bored will not help you. Don't smoke during an interview even if your interviewer does.

Time to talk

An interview should be a two-way discussion, conversational but not casual. Answer questions honestly. If you fluff around with answers and try to throw jargon to hide your lack of preparation, your interviewers will notice. If you don't understand a question, say so. Some standard interview questions include:

• If you could have any job you wanted, what would it be?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• Why do you want to be a management trainee?
• Do you handle pressure well? Give us an example.
• What objectives have you set yourself in terms of career? Have you achieved them?
• Describe yourself. What are your strengths?
• Describe a situation where you have contributed to the success of your team.
• Give an example of a difficult task you have completed.

  Rehearsing answers

  While these are questions that you can prepare for, rehearsing answers too precisely may end up throwing you off if a question is varied slightly. One way is to work on broad subject areas that are likely to come up such as:
  1. General background and experience
  This is often one of the first few things you'll be asked to expand on. If you're applying for a first job, you should focus on your qualifications, education, extracurricular activities and any part time jobs. By all means, repeat the information you already have in your CV, but expand the points.
  2. Suitability for position
  Don't feel bashful about saying why you'd be good for the job. You want to talk about your qualifications and skills that match the job requirements. These may be paper qualifications, accreditations, or skills based on your personality and innate abilities.
  This is also where research into the company will pay off. Give details on experiences, work or otherwise, that has allowed you pick up skills that are right for the environment of the industry, the organization and the job itself. It's an important question, and can help you win or lose the job.
  3. Reasons for applying
  Many trip up on questions in this area. You may think: "Duh, I applied because I need a job/money." Wrong answer. Your reply should say why you find the job appealing, how you have been attracted to the company and its policies and have already prepared yourself for the particular career.
  4. Career objectives
  Most employers want to know that you have put thought into your career and are not just looking for job. They do not expect you to say that you'll still be with them ten years down the road, but they do want to hear that the position you are applying for is part of your career plan. Indicate that you know what you want and have already taken steps to realise your ambitions.
  You can never tell the style in which an interview will be conducted, so don't be too rigid in your preparation. Go with the flow, even if it's not the way you thought it would be. At the end of the day, your future employer just wants to know if you're right for the job, and if you're comfortable with the thought of working for the company. The best you can do is to prepare, relax and enjoy.
  © GTI Specialist Publishers. Reproduced with permission.