17 July 2009
	INTERVIEWS Ace that interview By Hayley McLaren Job interviews are stressful, but how bad can they really be? Here's a quick guide on what to avoid, and how to make the best impression

Serena Bradford, a career consultant for recruitment agency Ad Talent, has had her fair share of funny and weird interviews. "On one occasion I was interviewing a guy who started out speaking normally to me but then suddenly switched and began swearing and shouting at me. This continued throughout the interview. I was so paralysed with fear that I didn't stop him or question him. I just sat there, horrified. Only at the end of the interview did he tell me that he suffered from Tourette's Syndrome, where some sufferers can't help involuntary swearing or shouting. I was a shaking wreck after he left!" Bradford says that though this is an extreme case - one bad situation fuelled by lack of information - being prepared and confident in an interview is the key to clinching your dream job. It's a scenario all graduates will face: Finally, you get the call inviting you to interview for the job of your dreams, or even just the job that will pay the bills for now. Only one thing stands in your way - the dreaded job interview. Interviews can be stressful for experienced as well as new applicants, but a methodical approach to preparation is half the battle. The interview is a two-way process. As much as the company is investigating you and your suitability, you will also be assessing them to see if they're right for you and your career needs. Remembering this can help calm your nerves a little. Preparation is key The most important thing you can do before the interview is to research the company itself. Browse their website, read their press releases, and mission statement. Ask yourself if your career goals align themselves with the company's vision. If asked that in an interview, how will you articulate your answer? Knowing this will stand you in good stead when the interviewer asks why you wish to work for them. Try to dig deeper than the "about us" page on their website. What do other websites have to say about the company? What professional affiliations do they have? Time spent on researching the company will pay off on the day. Kate Tibshirany, currently studying towards her chartered financial analyst qualification, says her first interview was a nerve-racking experience. "I wish I had done more introspective research - on where I would like to be within a company in five years," says Tibshirany. "I thought they would guide me and tell me where I would fit in according to my CV. This was not the case. They wanted me to tell them where I wanted to go, and all I could do was stutter - how embarrassing!" Bradford says the interviewer will want to know the answers to these questions: Will you be able to do the job? Have you got the right attitude and motivation? Does the job fit with your career goals? She advises that candidates should prepare answers to these questions, and practise answering them out loud. Defence is the best offence Preparation is the only weapon you have. Once in the interview, be prepared for anything. "Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine the good cop, bad cop' situation I was about to get myself into," says Tibshirany. "The first woman greeted me with a smile and a hug so I thought the interview would be a breeze. I spoke confidently about my CV and my abilities and she agreed with me. Little did I know I was soon to be interrogated by the bad cop'." Tibshirany describes how the second interviewer disregarded her CV and sneered at her qualifications. "Instead of a dialogue, I ended up having to defend my cum laude degree. She told me I was lucky' to have received it." This unusual tactic can leave the interviewee feeling dejected and defensive. Bradford says the only thing to do in this situation is to maintain a good attitude, remain poised and smile. "They are trying to disarm you, trying to see how you will cope under pressure. "The key is to remain assertive. Market yourself and your abilities and let them know why you are the best person for the position." "However," she adds, "there is a difference in being assertive and coming off as aggressive and arrogant. Interviewers will immediately be put off if they sense you are acting superior." Last impressions count Recruiters advise that candidates try to close the interview on a positive note. Find a positive and memorable statement to finish the discussion. Handing over a tidy file with all your certificates, references and CV will make a lasting impression. Showing willingness and availability for a second interview may also be key in ensuring you make the shortlist of candidates. Don't be afraid to ask when the employer will be making the hiring decision and if you really want the job - ask for it! "After my horrendous first-time experience, there was only one thing I could do at the end of it," says Tibshirany. "All I could do was thank both my interviewers with a warm smile and a firm handshake. I confirmed my strengths and the reasons why I would be an asset to the company. I will have to wait and see how it goes. I am not going to be too hard on myself though. Things don't always go as planned." It could always be worse "On another occasion a woman I was interviewing had an epileptic fit. I didn't realise what was happening and screamed for help from my colleagues," says Bradford. After the interviewee came around, it was determined that the bright orange colour of Bradford's office had triggered the seizure. "I sent her out for an interview a few days later, but warned the company about her problem and told them not to interview her in an orange office. The boardroom was busy when she got there so the creative director took her to his office to carry on the meeting. And you guessed it; his office was orange and she proceeded to have a fit. Amazingly, she got offered the job and is still there to this day."