What to do in an interview

You've gotten an interview with a company you're interested in, you've done your research on their culture, values and products. What next?

1. Be well dressed in a suit, shirt, tie, clean shoes. Smile and shake hands confidently!
2. Remember to listen! This sounds simple enough but a lot of times candidates can be very eager to get their point across and don’t listen to the question being asked. Also, make sure that you do not talk over the interviewer - i.e. do not speak before they’ve finished asking the question. Talking across your interviewer could lead you to being perceived as arrogant or overly nervous.
3. Know how to answer questions using the STAR model. This is an interview technique that many companies use and they will judge your answers based on this model. Put simply your answer needs to tell a coherent story with a beginning, middle and end. The structure you hang this on is STAR; Situation, Task, Action and Result. In other words; What was the situation or problem at hand, what was needed to be done, what was actually done/what part did you do, what result was achieved?
4. Be ready for ‘What are your strengths and weaknesses’ question.
5. Have questions ready - simple as that. Like doing your research, asking 4-5 questions will put you head and shoulders above the rest. There is nothing worse than an awkward silence when this question is asked. Awkward silence = I have not prepared.
6. Examples of questions to ask:

• - What training and development is offered?
• - How is the department / team structured?
• - How do they see the role developing?
• - How would they describe the corporate culture?
• - How is the relationship between Dublin and head office?
• - Be enthusiastic - if you’re not, you just won’t get the job. This is consistently given as a reason by clients as to why they do not want to proceed with a candidate. You need to sit up straight in the chair, making eye contact, smile, listen and be keen!