Make that interview a little easier

Not many people look forward to job interviews so it helps to take all the help you can get. One way is to be observant and pay attention to clues that may guide you along

DON'T IGNORE BODY LANGUAGE: Having the right body language is important but so is that of the people interviewing you because that gives you clues as to whether your answers are making sense or not. Some interview panel members choose not to give anything away by keeping an ‘expressionless demeanor’. Otherwise most people’s expressions will give you clues- nods, a slight frown, ‘mindlessly’ shuffling their papers -often a sign he or she is looking interest. You’d be wise to heed these signals.

PAY ATTENTION TO PROBING: Some questions in an interview carry more weight than others; therefore an interviewer may probe further on the “big” questions if your initial answers are not adequate. So if you realize this, don’t just repeat your response ‘in other words’, add new information, include an example to communicate your points better. Ask for a question to be repeated if you are not clear rather than risk go round in circles or fudging your answers.

DON'T DOWNGRADE YOURSELF: Don’t belittle your achievements in an effort to appear humble. Be proud of your achievements and mention them with as many examples as you can. You don’t want to sound arrogant but showcasing your capabilities is the most important thing for you to do in an interview. The more recent the achievements, the better. Don’t mess that chance by ‘playing little’

NO MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES PLEASE: Sometimes a candidate looks great on paper but their interview performance is the exact opposite. Treat your job search as a ‘process’ and connect the different bits. Go into the interview expecting to be asked about the contents of your application so read the application and make sure you have good examples to back up what you have written.

Now take action: Write down your top achievements in the past 12 months