10 top tips to storm the job interview

You’ve been asked to attend an interview for your first job from college or university and let’s be honest, you’re pretty nervous to say the least; the current job market is very competitive and you want to make sure you make the best impression to get the job!

This article will help you put your best foot forward, settle your nerves beforehand, give you a number of key techniques for during the interview and hopefully ensure you can land your dream job:

1. Pre-interview you should definitely become familiar with the company you are interviewing with. Do some research online and search for them in the local press so you’re aware of recent news and some basic company information e.g. what products/brands they make.  This will show you are interested in the company.
2. Ensure you know who you are meeting (forgetting your interviewers name will not go down well!), plan your journey – be conscious of potential traffic, and whatever you do, don’t be late, time management is crucial!
3. Refresh yourself on your CV and take a couple of copies of your CV, covering letter and references with you. Print them off and keep them in a file for a professional appearance. You can refer to your CV throughout your interview as a prompt should you feel you’re stumbling on a question.  
4. You will want to look the part so what you plan to wear for your interview may not seem so important but is actually a key part of the process – first impressions are, by definition, instant and it only takes a few seconds for somebody to formulate a positive or negative opinion of based on your appearance alone. Look smart, look sharp; if you look great, you’ll feel great and this will come across in your personality during your interview.
5. During the interview your body language is very important – make eye contact, smile, try not to fidget (this will be a distraction) and correct your posture so you’re sat up and facing your interviewer looking alert.
6. Answer the questions that are asked – don’t try & deviate from what you’ve been asked, as they might think that you’re trying to avoid something!  Just be honest, clear and concise.
7. Use examples from your personal experiences to help validate your answers. These experiences can be from school, college or even at home but will strengthen your answer.
8. Try not to repeat yourself (which can be easier said than done, we know) but take a notebook and a pen and make quick notes on what has been discussed as you go through the interview. These notes could also come in useful should you get a second interview.
9. Show you’re interested in the company with some questions to ask your interviewer. These could be in relation to a topic which came up while researching the company background or relative to the specific job role or the team you could be working with.
10. Follow up on your interview a couple of days after. Sending an email to your interviewer to say thank you for the opportunity to meet the company also gives you the chance to ask for some feedback on how the interview went which could result in a second interview, tips for next time or even a job offer!

Some companies will want a form of identification so be prepared and take a photocard ID with you such as passport or drivers licence.

Remember, be yourself and show your personality. If you don’t get the first one, there is always the next opportunity! You can keep a check on our website for all of the latest vacancies and graduate schemes in the food and drink industry here: http://tastycareers.org.uk/jobs

Alternatively, if you have any queries or would like further advise tweet us @TastyCareers