{"id":7067,"date":"2021-04-12T03:06:17","date_gmt":"2021-04-12T03:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorecareers.co.uk\/?p=7067"},"modified":"2021-04-12T03:06:17","modified_gmt":"2021-04-12T03:06:17","slug":"six-things-to-take-to-your-first-interview-one-to-leave-behind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorecareers.co.uk\/six-things-to-take-to-your-first-interview-one-to-leave-behind\/","title":{"rendered":"Six Things to Take to Your First Interview & One to Leave Behind!"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

If you caught our blog post last week, you should already be pretty clued up on how to go about setting yourself up for interview success<\/a> (it\u2019s all in the preparation) and have a few tactics for calming those interview nerves!<\/p>\n

But what about the actual interview itself?<\/p>\n

Many young people ask us what they should be taking to their interview, and it\u2019s actually a pretty good question to think about.<\/p>\n

Following on from preparing for your interview, in this week\u2019s blog, we\u2019re shining a light on the five things you should be taking with you to your interview, and one thing to leave behind:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0 Your Identification<\/h3>\n

Depending on where your interview is being held, you might need to provide ID (this can often be the case if attending interviews for government programs and roles). You may also be asked to provide ID if you\u2019re attending an assessment centre, so it\u2019s generally a good idea to make sure you have some on you and be prepared.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0 A Copy of Your Resume and Application<\/h3>\n

Many interviewers start their conversations with applicants by discussing their resume and application. Don\u2019t give yourself the sweats on the day if you know you\u2019re likely to forget things; take a copy with you. There\u2019s absolutely nothing wrong with having it on the table to refer to when asked questions so you can clarify your answers. You might also like to take a notebook with dot points of key information you want to use in response to common interview questions.<\/p>\n

Far from seeming forgetful, this type of thing can actually demonstrate that you\u2019re organised and self-aware.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0 Anything the Employer\u2019s Asked For<\/h3>\n

Make sure you read through your interview invitation email carefully, including any attachments and know whether the employer has asked you to take anything specific. Sometimes an employer might ask you to prepare a short presentation on a topic related to the role, or they may ask you to bring proof of qualifications and\/or grades.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re unsure or the email is unclear, set yourself up for success by emailing a few days beforehand and asking if there is anything the employer would like you to bring. It\u2019s always better to look like you\u2019ve paid attention rather than missed vital information.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0 A Professional Handshake<\/h3>\n

One of the things many employers say they find off-putting about candidates is a weak or unprofessional handshake! It\u2019s a tiny thing that can actually make or break your first impression. A professional handshake should be:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Firm but not too tight – Don\u2019t squeeze the other person\u2019s hand!<\/li>\n
  • Dry (no one likes to shake a sweaty hand!)<\/li>\n
  • Met with a smile and greeting – Repeating the person\u2019s name as you greet them can help you remember it later.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    In a post-COVID world, handshakes have generally been off the table, but this is changing. It\u2019s still important to keep social distancing measures in mind too.<\/p>\n

    5.\u00a0\u00a0 A Confident Smile<\/h3>\n

    When we\u2019re nervous, it can be really easy to forget about simple things like how our facial expressions are doing. Just as a poor handshake can create a wrong first impression, an anxious frowning face will do the same.<\/p>\n

    If you feel your nerves taking over, remember to take three deep, calming breaths. Relax your shoulders, unclench your jaw and remember: you can do this! When meeting the employer for the first time, make sure you greet them clearly with a confident smile – you\u2019ll make just the right impression they\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n

    6.\u00a0\u00a0 Some Questions to Ask<\/h3>\n

    One of the best ways to demonstrate an interest in the role and the employer is to make sure you have some questions to ask during or at the end of your interview. Employers are always keen to share their organisation and knowledge about their team with you, so show an interest and ask some questions!<\/p>\n

    This can be things like:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • What have been some of the team\u2019s successes this year?<\/li>\n
    • What does an average day look like for me in this role?<\/li>\n
    • How many people will I be working with?<\/li>\n
    • What does the management structure look like across the organisation?<\/li>\n
    • What would be the key priorities for me in the first three months, if I\u2018m successful, when starting this job?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      And Leave the Nerves at Home<\/h3>\n

      This might seem like the hardest part, but it\u2019s worth remembering three key things:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. The employer already thinks you can do the job<\/strong>; they wouldn\u2019t bother meeting you if they didn\u2019t.<\/li>\n
      2. They think you\u2019d be a great fit.<\/li>\n
      3. They\u2019re not looking for a reason not<\/strong> to hire you.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Essentially they want to make sure what you\u2019ve written on paper matches with the real-life you. Keeping these three things in mind is a great way to help calm those nerves. Rather than thinking you have to try and be someone you\u2019re not or \u2018prove\u2019 you can do the job, you just have to show how professional, capable and willing you are to learn and contribute to the organisation.<\/p>\n

        And we definitely know you can do that!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Reading Time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span> If you caught our blog post last week, you should already be pretty clued up on how to go about […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7068,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[24],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7067"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7067"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7067\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7069,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7067\/revisions\/7069"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7068"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7067"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7067"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explorecareers.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7067"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}