It’s pretty normal for anyone to get nervous during a job interview and it’s not hard to see why. The more you care about getting the job, the more worried you’ll be about your interview performance.
The success of an interview is highly dependent on your preparation and how you conduct yourself during the meeting. That’s why it’s important to prepare for the interview adequately so that you’re able to answer the questions confidently and demonstrate that you are the ideal candidate for the job. Being nervous is normal, but it’s important to stay composed and calm throughout the interview
Below we have provided some useful tips for you to avoid the jitters, build your confidence and of course, nail that job interview!
- Research the company
Doing some research on the prospective company will be highly beneficial for your interview preparation. Visit the company website and read through key information such as the company profile, annual reports, ‘About Us’ section, as well as company news releases and announcements. Scrolling through the company social media pages could also help you get a good grasp of what they offer to their customers and how they communicate it.
Remember to always research about the company you’re applying for before an interview and understand the company and the specific job description for the position you’re applying for. Not only does it show your interest, but also will help you be more convincing about how you would be a good fit.
- Brush up on your interview skills
Being able to articulate your thoughts during an interview is important if you want to be successful. You can practice interviewing with a friend or a family member to avoid scrambling for answers and to get their feedback. You can also record yourself so you can study how you deliver answers and observe your body language. By doing this, you can take note of whether you often use verbal fillers, such as “uh” and “um” which can be avoided and improved on by employing these 5 tips.
Remember: Practicing will always lead to improvement.
- Practice the #1 interview question: Tell me about yourself
This is one of the most common questions during a job interview and maybe even the most important. There are no right or wrong answers to this but it might be helpful to remember these tips to deliver the best answer to this question.
| DO | DONT |
| - Use the Present-Past-Future formula. Begin with your current experience and position and transition to your past experiences and how they helped hone your skills. Finally, end by communicating your enthusiasm for the role and to work with the company.
- Keep your “elevator pitch” short. - Practise your answer, but do not memorise it verbatim. Your answer needs to project confidence, but also needs to be authentic. |
- Tell your life story.
- Repeat your resume word-for-word.
- Speak for too long. Keep it short but informative and also personable. |
For more detailed tips on this, check out this video from Annemarie at Speak Confident English: How to Answer Tell Me About Yourself—Job Interview in English - YouTube
- Arrive early
According to hiring experts, arriving 15 minutes early for a job interview is the best timing for an in-office interview because it shows that you’re ready and that you’re eager to get the job.
If the event that you are participating in an online interview, the ideal time to enter an online meeting room is 5 minutes before the scheduled start of the interview. This way, the hiring manager won’t have to wait for you to join if they do decide to start the interview earlier.
Keep in mind that punctuality always makes a good first impression – be it online or in-person because it shows that you are organised and reliable.
- Remember to follow up
Within 24 hours of the interview, write a short email to thank the employer for the opportunity. This will show your strong interest in the company and your determination to get the position. Further, a thank you email can also help you to restate your value by recapping the qualities that make you a strong fit for the role and to restate your enthusiasm for the role.
ESL Tutoring Services
If you need to improve your English speaking skills to prepare for future job interviews, ESL Tutoring Services provides one-on-one tailored English learning programs to help you achieve your goals.
ESL Tutoring Services provides high quality English as a Second Language (ESL) training and tuition with highly qualified and experienced ESL tutors based in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. All of our tutors have a University Degree, TESOL or CELTA qualification along with professional experience teaching and business backgrounds. With a team of highly experienced ESL tutors, you’ll be able to achieve the best learning outcomes and your full potential at work or in any aspect of your life.
To book a class with us, get in touch with us through email: info@esltutoringservices.com or call 1300 137 186.
