Global Utilities

La Trobe University
Careers and Employment

For Students

How to succeed at an interview

Preparing for the interview

  • Research the organisation and the particular position for which you are being interviewed. Of course, you should have done this before you sent in your application, but you will want to review this
    information now.
  • Find out who is going to interview you and what their role is - and how to pronounce their name(s). Also check how long has been allocated for the interview. Whoever advises you that you have an interview should be able to give you this information.
  • Work out the best way of getting to the interview and how long it will take you to get there. Is parking available? How reliable is public transport? It could be worth doing a trial journey at the scheduled time. It’s better to get there early than be flustered (or appear disorganised) by arriving late. Arriving at the interview location ten minutes before your interview is probably ideal.
  • Plan what you’re going to wear and ensure it is clean and pressed. If in doubt, play safe and dress conservatively. Polish your shoes. If you have facial piercing, think about how that will be viewed by the organisation and consider whether you would be better to remove it, at least for the interview. Don’t overdo the make-up, perfume or aftershave and make sure your hair is clean and off your face. The crucial thing to remember is that first impressions count – what sort of an impression do you want to make?
  • Prepare a folder to take with you containing documentation such as copies of your resumé, covering letter, application form, proof of qualifications, your academic transcript, references, a list of your referees and their contact details and examples of your work if appropriate.
  • Interviewers work on the assumption that past behaviour is a good predictor of future behaviour. Consider situations that you can use to illustrate that you have the skills and personal qualities that are required of the position. Draw on all aspects of your life and think of at least two situations for each skill.
  • Another approach is to consider each aspect of your life – e.g. study, work, hobbies. What different tasks do you have to do in your job for example? What skills does each task require you to have? Think of specific situations when you have been undertaking these tasks and have demonstrated the skill. If you break down your search for examples into these smaller steps, you may find it easier.
  • Practise your answers to predictable interview questions. Obviously these are general in nature, so you will also have to think about the specific knowledge that a new graduate in your profession is expected to have and revise that knowledge. Put yourself in the interviewers’ shoes – what will they want to know? Practise your answers out loud – preferably with someone who will give you constructive feedback (contact Careers and Employment at the Melbourne (Bundoora) or Bendigo campuses).
  • Prepare some questions to ask the interviewer about the organisation and/or the job. Remember that an interview is a two way process and it is important that you have enough information to let you decide whether or not you really do want this job. Make sure, however, that you couldn’t have found out the answers to your questions through another means (e.g. the website). Have a few questions ready just in case some of them are answered in the course of the interview. The sort of things you could ask about include the training and professional development that is offered, the day-to-day activities and organisation of the unit you’ll be in, the culture of the place, the career progression of previous graduates, opportunities for travel, etc. It’s fine to take a list of questions in with you – perhaps include these in your folder.
  • If you can’t attend or choose for any reason not to proceed with an arranged interview, you should notify the employer as soon as possible before the appointment.

The early stages of the interview

  • The interview begins even before you have met your interviewers. Whenever you make contact with someone from the organisation, either by phone or when you check in with Reception, you are making an impression that may be discussed informally. While interviews are meant to be (and largely are) purely objective with candidates being assessed according to how well they meet the criteria for the job, it’s very hard to remove all subjectivity from the process. Create a positive first impression!
  • Try to relax. You will be nervous but that’s not a bad thing because the adrenalin keeps you alert and gives you energy. It becomes a problem, however, when you do not perform at your best because of your nerves. Thorough preparation will help, but a lot of people also find that concentrating on their breathing while they are waiting can take their mind off the interview and slow down their heart rate. Other people engage in visualisation where they imagine themselves in a place in which they feel relaxed and happy, but this is a technique that takes practice. Perhaps the best thing is to try and put the interview in perspective; is it really the end of the world if you don’t get this particular job? Yes, it will be disappointing, but there will be another opportunity.
  • Turn off your mobile phone. Don’t even have it on ‘vibrate’ because that can still make a noise.
  • Greet the interviewer(s) by name, look them in the eye and firmly shake hands when introduced. This is not only good manners but it conveys confidence. (Take a handkerchief with you so you can wipe your hands before the interview if you tend to get sweaty palms when you’re nervous).
  • Listen attentively to the interviewer’s opening remarks. It would be very embarrassing if you were to ask them later something about the organisation or the job that they had already told you. It’s also important to listen carefully to the questions they ask you. For example, are they asking you what you would do in a certain situation or what you have done? What is the question intended to find out?
  • Unless it’s a very informal interview in which you think it would be better to join the interviewer in a cup of tea or coffee, it’s better to decline such an offer. Have a drink of water if you wish, but a hot drink can burn your tongue and there’s always the danger of spilling it in your saucer! Anyway, if the interviewer is the person who will make the drink, precious time will be wasted when you could otherwise be 'selling' yourself.

Throughout the interview – your body language

  • Sit upright in your chair. You don’t want to perch on the front of your seat because this will convey extreme nerves, nor should you lounge back because you will look arrogant or as though you don’t care. Leaning very slightly forward can help you look interested and appear enthusiastic.
  • Smile! Part of the reason the employer wants to meet you is to find out whether you will fit into the work group. They want to know if you are someone they can relate to. A smile tends to indicate someone who is friendly and warm. (Make sure it’s natural – not forced!)
  • Put some animation and enthusiasm into your voice and facial expressions. A flat expression and a dull voice are not only boring but they create a negative impression.
  • Maintain eye contact. This shows confidence and sincerity. If you are being interviewed by more than one person, direct most of your answer to the person who asked the question but occasionally include the rest of the panel by glancing in their direction.
  • Don’t cross your arms or legs. This is often perceived as being defensive and creates a barrier between you and the interviewer.
  • If you tend to use hand gestures to emphasise a point when you speak, feel free to do so in the interview – but don’t fiddle with a pen, jewellery or your hair because this can be distracting. If this is a habit of yours, try clasping your hands on your lap or resting them on your knees.
  • Be aware also of the interviewer’s body language. Check to see if they appear to understand your responses. If they look bored or start reading the next question on their list, draw your answer to a close.

Throughout the interview – what you say

  • You will know before the interview the knowledge, skills and personal qualities that are required of the successful applicant. Look for opportunities to let the interviewer know that you have those attributes. Consider what you have done that demonstrates your ability to do the job and give specific examples where possible. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) approach to frame your answers and statements in the best way.
  • If you don’t understand a question, don’t be frightened to seek clarification. You can do this by simply asking the interviewer to repeat the question or paraphrasing it back to them to ensure you have understood it correctly. Similarly, if you feel that you have messed up an answer, let them know you aren’t happy with your response and ask if you could have another go. If you just can’t think of an appropriate answer, ask if you can return to the question later. Even though an interview is an artificial situation, it should still be an illustration of your communication skills. Explaining how you’re feeling or asking for clarification are good communication skills.
  • Don’t give one word answers. Even if the question you’re asked could be answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’, expand on it in some way or give some information that explains why that is your response. On the other hand don’t speak for too long. If you’re not sure, you can always ask the interviewer if you have answered the question adequately or if they would like you to expand further.
  • Present information in a positive light. You should always try to leave a positive impression in the mind of the interviewer, so at least end your answer with a positive statement. If for example, you are asked what your weaknesses are, finish by explaining what you have done to help you overcome this weakness.

At the end of the interview

  • At the end of the interview, you will be given the opportunity (and expected) to ask the questions you have prepared beforehand – and any others that have come to mind during the course of the interview. If the answer you are given is insufficient or raises further questions, do follow up with another question. Don’t, however, take up too much time or ask too many questions – two or three are usually sufficient.
  • If you haven’t already been told, ask about the next stage in the selection process and/or when they expect to make their decision. If you haven’t heard by then, it’s a good idea to contact the organisation to see how they’re going with their decision making. Then at least you know where you stand.
  • If there is an important piece of information that you haven’t been able to share with the interviewer, or there was a question that you would like to revisit, or you want to emphasise a point in your favour, you can do this either before or after you ask your questions.
  • Don’t ask about salary in an interview. If the salary will help you decide whether or not to apply, then find out the range before you apply. Negotiations about salary are best left until you are actually offered the job. Then you are in a strong bargaining position because you know they want you!
  • End the interview on a positive note by smiling, thanking the interviewer for their time and shaking their hand – and remember that the interview isn’t over until you are out of sight (of everyone)! Even if you feel you weren’t at your best, you don’t know how the other applicants will go; even if you have decided you don’t want the job, there may be another opportunity with the organisation in the future.

After the interview

  • Write down the names of your interviewers and their positions in the organisation. Also note the sort of questions you were asked and the answers you gave. This can be important if you’re going for a number of different jobs or if you’re called back for a second interview.
  • Take time to reflect on your performance. What did you do well? What questions did you find hard? How could you improve in the future?
  • If you were unsuccessful, ask if you can have some feedback. Some organisations will be unwilling to do this but they will respect your right to ask and the initiative that you have shown in doing so. Those who are willing to give you feedback will usually do it in a constructive way so that you learn from the experience.
  • Write to the organisation to thank them for giving you the opportunity to meet them and discuss your suitability for the position. You may wish to ask them to consider you for future positions. Even if you have decided that you wouldn’t like to work for that organisation, you are still leaving a positive impression and you never know who they might know who might be in a position to employ you in the future.