Some Graduate Interview Essentials

For those about to embark on their journey of obtaining a graduate job, it can be a nerve-wrecking experience. At this stage you have obviously put together an impressive CV, which has grabbed the attention of recruiters, now its interview time. Regardless of how prepared you may be, nerves will still sit in the pit of your stomach, however it is all about eradicating as much of those nerves as is possible. How do we go about this? Preparation. How you prepare for interview will have a huge bearing on how you feel entering the interview and how you perform during it. Here we will lay out some of the areas that candidates can prepare for, before taking the steps into the interview room.

By working on these pre-interview, you are putting yourself in the best position to succeed. The areas we lay out vary from location & travel time to knowing your CV inside out.

Interview Attire

There are many sayings thrown about regarding what to wear to interviews and to work in general, and if we think about them, I believe they are valid. Just two examples include, “dress for the job you want, not the one you have” & “its better to be over-dressed than under-dressed. There won’t be many worse feelings than turning up for an interview, realising that you are completely under-dressed. If you are in any doubt about what to wear, you should either ask or alternatively, get that suit dry cleaned ASAP. Certain jobs will not require you to show up in formal wear, it is no harm to ask the person who has contacted you regarding the interview.

Do not under any circumstances leave it until the morning of the interview to try on your outfit. What happens if it does not fit, or it is stained? Panic sets in and your nerve levels begin to skyrocket. Be prepared, try your interview attire on well in advance and lay it out ready to go the night before. It is all about eliminating potential disasters, leaving yourself to focus on other areas of the interview.

Location/Time

An area of the process many take for granted, yet it can have a hugely detrimental effect on your potential success rate if something goes even slightly wrong. As I have mentioned and will continue to state, we are looking to prepare and eliminate potential disasters, to keep you as level headed and ready as possible. You know where the location of your interview is via Google Maps, however, are there one-way streets involved, is there parking, does the bus drop you near where you need to be? If you do not know the answer to these questions, you need to find them out. Try a dry run, aim to be where you need to be at the time you need to be there, what is the parking like, how long is the walk from the bus stop? By carrying out a dry run, you are eliminating the derailment of your interview plans and preparation.

With regards to the timing of your interview, you should always aim to be on-site at least 10 mins before the interview is due to start. Check in with reception, state that you are slightly early, and there is no rush on the interviewers. This gives you time to compose yourself and get your head in the game, ready to impress them for the next 30-60 minutes.

Your CV

You spent a lot of time slaving over your CV and getting it ready for submitting to potential employers. Now, before your interview, you need to know it inside out. You need to be able to talk confidently about your educational credentials, assignments, projects, relevant work experience you may have etc. Your ability to speak about these areas will play a huge part in your success. Practice answering potential questions surrounding these topics, if possible conduct a mock interview. We have interviewed countless people and when asked questions on their CV, they have a blank look on their face as if it is the first they have heard of it. Know your CV and know it well.

Bring a number of copies to your CV to the interview, just in case there are multiple interviewers. By having copies with you for their benefit, it really shows your preparation. It will also give you the opportunity to look over it, before you go into the interview.

Questions

Without any doubt, you need to prepare for the questions you are going to be asked, and there is no way to be 100% prepared for this. However, it is important that you have questions prepared for your interviewers. This is often understated and most will not spend much time on this area. It will show the recruiters that you care, you are prepared and you want to genuinely know more about the role and company. If your questions are answered during the interview, mention this to them when they ask you if you have any questions.

Keep the above in mind when you get invited to interview and you will be on the right track to being successful at your graduate interview.