25 July 2008
	FM Campus RecruitmetnnEdition Beginner's luck By Stephen Rose

There are a few hard-and-fast rules for successful interviews, but if you haven't prepared adequately, you may as well slam the door on your way out A wise soul once said there is no such thing as luck, only adequate or inadequate preparation. Sadly for those with a particular dislike of homely "boy-scout" philosophy, this pretty much applies to any job interview you are likely to get. Of course, preparation is relatively easy. Thanks to the miracle of modern technology, almost any company you are likely to want to work for will have a website setting out what it does, its values and the kind of people who work there. Giving some thought to how your experience qualifies you for the position will also stand you in good stead. The trick to interviews is to be calm, collected and anticipate the sort of questions you will be asked. You do not have to repeat everything that is in your CV and cover letter, the interview is more about seeing how you would fit into the company. Taryn Govender of Kelly recruitment agency says it often helps to be familiar with industry jargon as it "shows an obvious interest or experience in the specific industry". This cunning trick can make the interviewer believe that you would be a better fit for the company than other candidates. Giving the impression that you are self-assured is also crucial. Use a firm handshake, switch off your cellphone and try not to look like a lost puppy: the illusion of confidence (not arrogance) is vital. Keep your answers to the point and do not sound too scripted. If the interviewer throws you a curve ball to upset your rhythm, you don't want to end up with tears in your eyes. Make sure that you understand the question - take time to think about your answer if necessary - and use real-life examples to demonstrate your competence. Your body language tells the interviewer more about you than you do yourself, so make lots of eye contact, smile frequently, sit in an attentive position and use hand gestures. Importantly, be positive, energetic and enthusiastic - and be yourself. If you are in a panel interview, make sure you communicate with each of the interviewers - not doing so could damage your prospects. Occasionally, an interview technique called good cop/bad cop or joint questioning is used and it is useful to know about it beforehand. Developed as an interrogation tactic, it involves two interviewers who take apparently opposing approaches to the subject. The bad cop takes an aggressive, negative stance towards the subject, setting the stage for the good cop to act sympathetically: appearing supportive and understanding. The technique is used in interviews to unnerve subjects who are young, frightened or naïve and to assess their intelligence. Many recruitment consultants advise against asking about your salary in the initial interview. This might seem counter-intuitive, considering that you are likely to be very aware of what you expect, but save negotiations about pay and promotion until you have been offered the job. Luckily, a massive part of the impression you make is based on your appearance which, mercifully, is entirely in your hands. Don't make the mistake of assuming that in the "noughties", a suit is passé. Formal dress creates the impression that you are serious about the interview and the job. Once in a blue moon, a successful applicant will be offered the job during the interview. More often than not though, you will leave without a clue about the success or failure of your application. In some cases, you are invited back for a second interview in which the company performs psychometric tests. If you haven't heard from the company within a few weeks, you probably weren't successful. This shouldn't discourage you. If you weren't properly suited to the job, you probably wouldn't have found it very rewarding anyway. Just be patient and prepare like a boy scout for the next interview.