Interview tips please!

[PriestJPN]

Have an important job interview on wednesday and am getting rapidly more nervous as the day approaches.... I've not had much interview experience, so any tips or advice from old pro's or any HR people would be extremely useful. Basically anything that helped make it all go as smooth as possible.

Don't suggest alcohol tho.

[TiG]

One thing I've always believed in more than anything and I love interviews is enthusiasm, Not over the top but you've got to be interested in what the interviewer is asking you, give a decent answer. Show interest in the job you are going for, have questions about the company and Job, even if its things like what the canteen is like etc.

Have your usual selection of I did this with a team or I did this on my own, or I enjoy this because, my best achievement recently etc, usually helps, and funny thing is it doesn't all have to be relevant to your job, i've found it just as good to have non work things that demonstrate skills important to the job.

Hope that helps
TiG

[Agent]

Be down to earth, don't talk like you know more than the person interviewing you (even though you may !), and keep smiling at all times.
Turn up early, don't be late.
Dress smartly, if you have glasses wear them. There was some research done ages ago, and employers get the impression people are more intelligent if they wear glasses (strange, but true !).
Try to slip a few things in that are recently relevant about the job your going for. For example, if your applying to be building PC's for someone, while talking, just drop out a few comments about the A64. It shows your up to date with the market.

Don't try and pull jokes, but always laugh (not over excessively) at theirs

[Allen]

Research the company and be prepared with a few questions you can ask them! That always goes down well.

Also, keep eye contact! Very important! Don't cross your arms. Be wary of your body language.

And have a FIRM handshake (but don't break his hand!). So many guys have weak pussy handshakes... doesn't look good IMO.

[shiato storm]

urgh! I hate those type of people - a handshake says a lot about a person I feel, firm and alls good but all limp and I'm not impressed...definite character tester.

[Twigman]

Ask questions, so your interested and means the communication and thoughts are flying both ways

[ACiD303]

Researching the company bodes well, and knowing about it's current affairs as well as within the industry.

That comes into being prepared for interviews in general. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself a few questions that you would ask a prospective employee of the vacancy. Then answer them. There will always be generic ones like "what qualities do you possess that you feel can benefit our company?" Some interviews are just bizarre, my mate had an interview where they asked him "do you consider yourself a quick thinker?" and he replied "yes, I do." then they promptly asked him "please demonstrate?" - a purposefully trick question thats not in the answer itself, but how you answer it. Luckily he wasnt thinking like he usually did (he wouldve just went "ummmmmm errrrrrrrr ahhhhhhhh" and just asked how they would like a demonstration (and gave examples) - basically something that said to the interviewers that he likes to be specific about details.

Sorry, didnt want to put you off with that last bit, but it shows being well-prepared for anything will pay off