After years of hard work, you are finally qualified for your career of choice! All you have to do now if get your first full time job. That’s easier said than done.
Many graduates find themselves writing dozens of resumes and going to interview after interview trying to get their foot in the door. There’s no quick way around this, particularly in competitive industries, but there are some things you can do to nail your interview, putting your best foot forward and giving you a better chance of being recruited.
First impressions
While not all professions require a crisp corporate look, recruiters will want to see that you are a serious potential employee. For guys, suit pants and an ironed white shirt with a tie and for girls, tailored pants or skirt with a elegant shirt or top are perfect for almost any industry interview. Even if you find that the recruiter is very casually dressed, it’s much better to be too formal that too casual. It goes without saying keep yourself neat and tidy. Iron your clothes, polish your shoes, keep your hair neat and avoid wearing too much make up. Focus on letting your personality and talent shine and don’t worry about trying to get the recruiter’s attention with flashy clothes.
Body Language
You may feel pretty nervous walking into interviews, so be sure to keep some strong body language to help you sail through. Make sure your handshake is firm and confident and make eye contact as you introduce yourself. Sit toward the front of your seat and lean slightly forward. This will demonstrate that you are engaged and enthusiastic about the opportunity. Bring a notepad and pen to the interview to take notes. Even if you don’t write anything down, you are communicating your preparedness just by pulling these out.
Research the company
Most recruiters will start the interview with asking what you know about the company. You can really impress your prospective employer by demonstrating how much you know about their business. Visit their website and find out who their major clients are and all the services that they provide.
Have some questions prepared
Inevitably the recruiter will ask you if you have any questions. Many inexperienced people fail to prepare for this part of the interview. This is an opportunity for you to find out more about the company and the role, which will help you to decide if the com
pany is one that you want to work for. Write down a few questions before the interview and refer to them you have the opportunity to ask them.
Be yourself
Most companies are not only looking for someone with the right qualifications and skill set, but they want someone who is going to fit in with the rest of their employees. By being yourself, you will help the recruiter to work out if you will be happy working in their work environment in the long term. Being yourself also guarantees that are recruited to a company that suits your personality and disposition.