Interview Guide Book

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You don't need to memorize an answer, but do think about what you're going to say, so you're
not put on the spot during the job interview.
Review the top 10 interview questions you'll most likely be asked at a job interview, plus the
best answers. Also, review the other questions you may be asked, so you're prepared to ace the
interview.
Top 10 Interview Questions
What is your greatest strength?
What is your greatest weakness?
How do you handle stress and pressure?
Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it.
How do you evaluate success?
Why are you leaving or have left your job?
Why do you want this job?
Why should we hire you?
What are your goals for the future?
Tell me about yourself.

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Body language at interviews
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken," Oscar Wilde once said.
That's exactly how recent graduate Ollie Gordon landed his job at Go
Mammoth after months of job hunting. As he got dressed for yet another
interview, he put on his black trousers, looked in the mirror and had a
change of heart.
"Fuck it, I thought, I'm going to wear what I feel comfortable in," he
says. "I stepped into my bright green chinos, threw on a t-shirt and
hoody, and instantly recognised myself again. I wanted to make a
statement – to stand out and show who I really was rather than another
generic applicant in a suit."

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After a string of unsuccessful interviews in smart clothes, he finally
found himself a job by being himself – bright green chinos and all.
Not all companies will appreciate such boldness of dress sense, of
course, so it's vital you do your research into the culture and ethos. The
point is not that wearing what you want is going to get you the job; it's
about finding a way to express who you are as best you can.
"Be polite and be yourself," says Francesca Turner, a National Careers
Service adviser. Whether you can do that through your clothes, small-
talk or what you say, showing your character is an important part of the
interview process.
You will probably choose to avoid certain details of what you get up to
on a Friday night, and you can dress up certain shortcomings on your
CV. But putting across a fake representation of yourself will do you no
favours – as Brainbox Coaching founder Tracy Johnson puts it: "You
might be able to sustain something that isn't really you for an interview,
but not for the duration of your job – that would be very stressful," she
says.
Another job seeker – Elliott Riordan, found talking about a hobby put
him at ease: "Finding something common with the interviewer –
something beyond the work role for me was football."

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In the competitive and short timescale of an interview, your appearance
and body language are going to play a significant role in showcasing
who you really are.
"First impressions are invaluable and body language marks an
interviewee's first communication with a potential employer," says
David Press, a chief executive at recruitment specialists Proceed.
"When deciding between two equally strong candidates, an employer
will almost certainly pick the one who appears the strongest socially."
But if you're quite shy and you don't want to "fake" it, how do you
convey a sense of confidence without a personality change? Look at the
behaviour of your friends to develop your own confidence.
Johnson says: "Have a think and try to identify two or three people you
know who demonstrate what you feel is confident behaviour and try out
what it is you feel that they do that creates this impression. Is it their
posture, their warmth towards others, or that they always seem
prepared?"
Practise your elevator pitch in the mirror, film your answers to make
sure you are using eye contact, ensure you get rid of any nervous
twitches.

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"On the day," Press advises, "give yourself a few minutes to use the
bathroom, have a drink and take a few deep breaths. When you sit down,
relax your shoulders, remember to maintain eye-contact, make a
conscious effort not to fiddle and fidget. Sit forward to give the
impression of confidence."
But don't automatically discard shyness as a weakness – it can, in some
roles, be positive.
"Don't be ashamed of your shyness, it's part of you and depending on the
job could be quite appealing," she says. "Not all roles need over-
confident employees and you can still be quietly confident." Non-verbal
communication is vital; how you say your answers is often just as, if not
more, important than what you say. Slouching, fidgeting, sitting with
crossed arms and glancing everywhere are to be avoided, while making
eye-contact, sitting upright, focusing on the person who asked the
question and being aware of personal space are simple things that can go
a long way to convincing an interviewer that you're the right candidate.
Yasif Sufi, a recruitment director at CVVID, believes body language is
even more important than the content of your questions. "There are
many studies that prove generally when talking to someone they pay a
lot more attention to you visually than what you are saying," she says.

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It's important, however, that you don't go into the interview with too
much advice to think about and certainly don't rely on your oldest source
of advice: your mother. I remember preparing for an interview one
evening when I was interrupted by the phone ringing.
"Don't wear a tie tomorrow," she advised. "People don't do that these
days – everyone's much more laid back."
Needless to say, I didn't take her advice. And needless to say, I didn't get
the job. Perhaps I should have taken a leaf out of Ollie Gordon's book
and dug out my dusty pair of yellow chinos. Gardian

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