During the interview

It is useful to remember that an interview can be divided into stages and the importance of non-verbal behaviour by those participating in the inteview.

Stages of an interview

The opening
As we all know, first impressions can only be made once, and this is the stage of the interview when that happens. The interviewer will gain an impression of you within the first few minutes that will probably be held for the rest of the interview. Therefore, you must not treat the opening of the interview casually. The light and easy small talk at this stage may help you to relax a little.

Key questions
The interview then moves into the most important stage; the employer's prepared questions. The answers you give will directly contribute to you being offered the job. You should have already considered the types of questions you may be asked in your interview preparation. A variety of questions will be asked, with some being specific to the type of job you are applying for. Questions can be about your personality, education and training, work experience, the company and the job, how you see your career progressing, leadership qualities, people skills, innovation and decision-making skills, goal planning, professional and personal development, salary and your interests outside of work. Familiarise yourself with some common interview questions (*PDF 20 k).

Within your answers you should avoid:

• criticizing a previous employer
• interrupting or arguing
• talking about personal problems.

You will also be given the opportunity to ask questions of your own (*PDF 20 k). Make sure you know what you want to ask so you do not leave the interview with unanswered questions about the job, refer to questions to ask the employer for suggestions.

The close
Before leaving you must make sure you have any final details, such as how you will be notified of whether or not you were successful. You can also ask for feedback from the interviewer. Make sure you maintain your composure right until the end of the interview.

Nonverbal behaviour

Nonverbal behaviour can be just as important as what you are saying for instance:

• upon arriving at the interview you should greet the interviewer with a firm handshake

• it is important to maintain eye contact at all times

• while you will probably be nervous, you should try and maintain an open and relaxed posture. Avoid nervous habits such as tapping your feet or repeating the word ‘um' in your answers. This is where practice helps! You may also lean into the conversation a little to show you are actively listening and interested. Speak clearly and calmly, in an enthusiastic and positive manner. It is also important not to turn away or cross your arms as this makes you appear as though you do not want to be there.