How To Get The Job You Really
Really Want - The Interview - Arrival At The Interview
Having made sure you know how to get where you are
going for the interview, give yourself plenty of time to ensure you
arrive early. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARRIVE LATE. I have
interviewed many people in my life, and as far as I can recall, I
have only hired one person who arrived late. I gave him a
real hard time, but he turned the situation round and did prove
to be a very valuable member of my staff.
However, arriving late shows lack of discipline
and organisation and will, in 90% of cases lead to you being
rejected after first interview. Indeed, I know of many employers
who will not even interview if the applicant is more than ten
minutes late, and to be honest, I do not blame them.
Punctuality is a basic business skill. The only way round this
one is, if you are genuinely held up, to make contact prior to your
arrival, explain your situation to the interviewer and request a
later slot. Needless to say, you need to have the interviewers'
'phone number on you in case of emergency.
Being late will also put you under unnecessary
pressure. Running late means you will probably arrive hot and
bothered, and probably flustered into the bargain. This is hardly
the recipe for you to perform at your best.
So, be early. It is better to be half an hour early,
than 1 minute late. If you are half an hour early, you can always
go to the local coffee shop or even a MacDonalds, have a cup of
coffee and relax for a few minutes. Aim to arrive between five and
ten minutes before the interview start time.
In most cases you will be nervous before an
interview, and that is good. If you really do want the job, you
will be a little nervous. It sharpens the senses a little. However,
on no account, go to the pub to calm your nerves. Not even for a
half of shandy. If an interviewer sniffs even the slightest hint of
alcohol, you will be shown the door. This is a complete NO NO.
Definitely no alcohol prior to interview. I have not had it happen
very often, but when it has, it has resulted in rejection in 100%
of cases.
If you are not kicked out straight away, you will
prejudice your chances, as well as make the interview a lot more
difficult than it need be.
Another one to avoid, just in case you get tempted,
is smoking in an interview. Even if you are offered, DON'T.
If you do, sod's law will say there is no ashtray, and you will be
left with a six inch cigarette of ash in your hand, or you will burn
your tie or whatever. Too much can go wrong with a ciggie. Refrain
until you leave the building!
Chewing gum in an interview is also a definite no. I
have mentioned alcohol and cigarettes, gum just looks bad, makes it
more difficult to talk and is liable to pop out when you least
expect it. Avoid it. In all honesty, these are really just
matters of common sense!
So, you have made it on time, you are super cool,
have all the information to hand and you arrive on the scene.
Next Page -
The Interview, In
You Go!
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