The Top 5 Do's and Do Not's of Job Interviews

Do's

  • Do your homework on the prospective employer. Make sure that you have done some research on the organisation before you go to the interview. Most companies have websites with comprehensive information where you can pick up pertinent information.
  • Do have at least 3 or 4 questions that you can ask the interviewer – This is your opportunity to interview the company about how they work, what their policies are and where they are headed. Do these things tie in with your personal aspirations and career growth objectives? Do focus on how your achievements and how you feel the organisation is a fit for you both professionally and personally
  • Do adhere to a formal dress code – Ensure that you are well dressed. The old maxim that it is always better to be overdressed rather than under dressed holds true for interviews.
  • Do give a valid strong reason for leaving your current employer such as personal development, attraction to the company’s culture or the need to relocate due to family pressures/requirements. Make sure that any references that you give support this position
  • Don’t lie. Ever. The most common areas where people tend to blur the lines between truth and reality are stating qualifications that they don’t have or have only partially completed e.g. an MBA where the dissertation is still outstanding and dates of employment. Credibility is vital and you will be found out

Do Not's

  • Do not over inflate your CV – be able to substantiate the work that you have claimed to have done. If you state that you led a SAP integration or a re-branding exercise be certain that you can talk about it knowledgeably and didn't just assist the person who actually did the work.
  • Do not be late – It may seem obvious but punctuality is vital. Arrive at least fifteen minutes early to give yourself time to become familiar with your surroundings.
  • Do not be overly familiar – Keep colloquiums to a minimum, never swear and remain on point.
  • Do not rundown your current employer however disaffected you may feel