Making a good impression

You can spend hours preparing for that big interview, but don’t forget about the small details that help you leave a great impression.

Dress the part

Don’t underestimate the power of dressing professionally to make that great impression. Don’t be afraid of looking too ‘formal’ – it is always good to dress as smartly and professionally as possible to an interview regardless of what the dress code is like in the job. Feel good about what you are wearing; this confidence will find its way into how you compose yourself and answer questions.

Prepare but don’t be scripted

It pays to be prepared.  Perhaps make some notes about what you want to cover, for example. Don’t go to the extreme where you sound too scripted and overly formal; it’s important to feel relaxed at work as well as making your colleagues feel at ease, so be yourself.

If you have been asked to bring particular documents, such as your degree or passport, pack them the night before so you have one less thing to worry about on the day.

Stay professional

Of course, ‘be relaxed’ should not deter you from maintaining a sense of professionalism. Tread the line between being friendly and professional. Always be polite, punctual and respectful to those around you – but try to let your personality shine through.

Be confident in your body language

Start with a firm handshake and make eye contact with the people in the interview room. This type of body language engages your audience and ensures people sit up and take notice of what you’re saying. A simple thing is to keep smiling. Show that you are feeling positive about the role and what you bring to it.

Bounce off the conversation

Listen attentively to your interviewers and make some mental notes about key points they mention. This can be useful in helping you ask useful questions later on, but also give you appropriate small-talk prior to or after the interview. Avoid using jargon and instead, use simple and clear language that gets your point across.

Relate your skills to the job role

Going into the room and talking about yourself for the entire interview is not something that will leave a good impression – interviewers want to know what you can bring to the organisation. So although talking about yourself is inevitable, make sure everything you say is in the context of the job role you have applied for, outside of the ‘tell us about yourself’ section of the interview.

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Last updated on 26 August 2022