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Interviews - What Not to Do
 By Jo Stuteley from office support recruiter La Crème explains the top mistakes candidates make in interviews
Let’s be honest, no-one really enjoys interviews, but we all know they’re a necessary evil to get that job! First impressions count for a lot, so it’s important to ensure you make a good one, but simple mistakes often mean that good candidates don’t do this. Here are some top tips of what to do and what to avoid in an interview.
Remember that your interview begins the moment you step into the employer’ premises. Being courteous to support staff such as receptionists is vital - they may be asked their opinion of you and they may be your future colleagues.
Make sure that you arrive on time. We all know how unpredictable the roads and the public transport system can be, so set off in plenty of time, even if it means arriving early and going somewhere for a coffee first. Excuses about traffic jams and train delays will not get the process off to a good start. However if you really are ‘unavoidably detained’, notify the interviewer immediately, giving the reason and an estimated time of arrival.
It may be an obvious one but turn your mobile phone off before you arrive. Disrupting the interview with a phone call is rude and does not look professional. Another real no-no is failing to research the company – it can make you look unprofessional and ill prepared. If you are using a recruitment consultancy, pick their brains – they can give you a heads up on not only the company itself but the culture, environment and personalities of the people who will be interviewing you. You can also use the internet – annual reports and brochures will usually be available on line.
Try and ask questions. Preparing questions on issues such as progression and career development potential, why the position has arisen, training and induction policies etc shows that you are interested and taking the interview seriously. Other than that, just smile, be honest, think clearly about how to answer the questions and let the interviewer see the real you – remember that your personality is just as important as your skill set.
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