Interview Do's and Don'ts

Recruitment stages and selection criteria vary by employer. These preparation suggestions can help you communicate clearly and take part professionally; they do not guarantee an interview invitation or a job. Follow any instructions supplied for your interview.

Do's

Dress for the job

• Wear clean, well-ironed formal clothes in plain colours. A tie or blazer is needed only when the call letter asks for it.
• Match your belt with your shoes, and polish the shoes.
• Keep hair neat, nails trimmed and perfume light.
• Carry your documents in a simple folder, in the order they are listed in the call letter.

Arrive early and prepared

• Reach the venue at least twenty minutes before your slot. Check the route the day before.
• Carry two copies of your resume, originals and photocopies of certificates, photographs and a pen.
• Read your own resume once more. Every line on it can become a question.
• Know the basics of the organisation: what it does, where it works and what the post involves.

Behave with confidence

• Knock, ask for permission to enter, greet the panel and sit only when you are asked to.
• Sit straight, keep your hands still and look at the person who asked the question while you answer.
• Listen to the whole question before you start. Take a moment to think if you need it.
• Speak clearly, at an even pace, in complete sentences.
• If you do not know an answer, say so plainly. A polite "I am not sure about that, sir" is better than a guess.
• Thank the panel before you leave and close the door gently behind you.

Don'ts

• Don't arrive late. If a delay cannot be avoided, telephone the office before your slot.
• Don't keep your mobile phone switched on in the room.
• Don't interrupt an interviewer or argue with one, even when you are sure you are right. State your view once, calmly.
• Don't speak badly of a previous employer, college or teacher.
• Don't give answers you have learnt by heart. Panels notice it at once and ask a follow-up that the prepared answer does not cover.
• Don't exaggerate on your resume or in your answers. One false claim makes the panel doubt everything else.
• Don't fidget, lean on the table, chew gum or look at the clock.
• Don't ask about salary and leave in the first round unless the panel raises the subject.
• Don't lose heart after one poor answer. Each question is marked on its own.

After the interview

Note down the questions you were asked while you still remember them, especially the ones you could not answer. They are the best preparation for your next interview.