Interviews...
Almost everyone gets nervous before interviews. If you find that you do get particularly nervous, (tell-tale signs are sweaty hands, "butterflies" in your stomach and going to the toilet constantly) then you may wish to take a look at the tips provided by our members on how to cope when you're inside the interview room.

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Preparation
Preparation for the interview is incredibly important. If you do your proper background checks it can reassure you and give you confidence, and it can also do you great favours if the interviewer asks you any questions regarding the company in question and the work they do.
In preparation, a number of things can be done:
- Research the company. Thorough research ensures you know exactly what the company is, what they do, their ethos, and their history.
- Think and write down any and all skills or experience that might be relevant to the job. Remember, the more you list, the better you will look.
- Make sure everything you need is prepared the night before. Make sure your clothes are neatly pressed and ironed and that they are smart. Make sure you have any documentation if you are required to take any along.
- Think of questions to ask them. This is important as well. At the end of the interview they may ask if you have any questions. If you ask at least one question, it will show that you have prepared and that you have researched the company. It also shows that you are keen and interested in the job and the company.
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Before you go into the Interview Room
It's important to try to stay calm. This is obviously harder than it sounds, because your subconscious is likely to be running wild whilst on the surface you look roughly composed. Make sure you're hydrated by drinking some water in advance. Keep some water with you, at least until you enter the room too, as this should prevent you suffering from "dry mouth" syndrome. Make sure you've had something to eat - not too long before, this will ensure your stomach doesn't rumble too loudly, but shouldn't interfere with your digestion should you suffer from the nauseating effects of the butterflies.
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Going In! * It's very important that when you go into an interview you make a good impression. This means dressing smartly, even if the interview you were invited to was scheduled as 'casual'. This means no jeans or trainers, guys and gals. Guys - you won't necessarily need to go all out with a suit unless it's a big company with an excellent tradition, but certainly a trousers/shirt/tie or trousers/shirt/jacket combination is essential. Girls - my advice probaly won't be very good not being one myself - but similar rules I would assume apply with regards to trousers/blouse/jacket combinations. Keep your hair tidy, and guys remember to be clean shaven. Don't wear too much makeup, jewellery, accessories etc, and don't use too much aftershave/perfume. * Smile when you're first addressed, and when you walk into the room, ensure your posture is upright. Slouching leaves a very bad first impression (take it from me!) If you're offered a hand or two to shake, accept the invitation and shake firmly, this is a sign of confidence and composure. Ensure you make eye contact, especially at the start, but try to maintain this throughout, as it will make you look focused and engaged. * Do not sit down until you are asked to do so; it may not seem like a big thing, but it could be seen as insolent behaviour. Try to take the lead from the interviewer(s) too: if their tone and posture is relaxed then see this as a sign to be relaxed also; if they are very upright and formal with their speech, try to adopt the same manner. Don't lean on your elbows during the interview either, and don't fiddle with your fingers, even if this is a nervous habit. If you find you normally fidget, try putting your hands together with your fingers interlocked as if you're praying and rest them on the desk in front of you - the fact that they are visible should encourage you to look over them into your interviewer's face and not fiddle. * Remember your manners at all times. Pleases and thank yous are duly noted and are likely to be reciprocated, even if that means a consolation phone call if unsuccessful that you wouldn't have otherwise received. Accept a glass of water, or tea/coffee if offered, and if they are also going to have one. Do not accept or request fizzy drinks or food.
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The Interview * Listen carefully to what you're being asked. Don't interrupt, but do ask them to clarify what they are asking if you don't understand the question straight away. Show interest in the interview by maintaining eye contact, and nodding or smiling where appropriate. If you find you cannot answer a question, don't be afraid to say "I'm afraid I cannot answer that" - don't spend half of the interview time trying to think of an answer or sputtering a half decent one out. Showing that you are willing to admit straight away to not knowing something is definitely preferable to someone who tries to cover things up. * Concentrate on what you're talking about: talk slowly and clearly; stop to think about your answers if an example or answer doesn't come straight to your mind - they will prefer this as it will seem like you're taking it seriously. Avoid waffling out an answer at all costs; definitely don't "um" and "err". Try not to talk for too long; be precise, and end your answers with a clear conclusion to lead you into being asked the next question. * Answer questions honestly, and frankly, but be careful not to criticise current or former employers - your interviewers may think you'll do this to them. Try not to reveal any confidential information about other people either, as this makes you look untrustworthy. If you can, try to promote your existing skills and abilities through the answers you give. Your interviewers will look kindly upon attributes such as enthusiasm, determination and a willingness to learn and get involved. Attempt to use positive words, such as saying "I enjoy..." rather than "I like..." and speak positively about the opportunity to accept this role. For example, "I anticipate the challenges this job would provide", rather than "If I get the job I think I could cope with the challenges..."
Click here to see What questions you might be asked?
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The End of the Interview * When they have asked you everything they will want to, they are likely to ask you if you have any questions. Make sure you do take this opportunity - it may well be your only chance and it'll give you an insight that you may wish you had received if you are offered a job and then don't enjoy the circumstances. An interview is about finding the best fit for both of you, and its important to remember that you are looking for a job that suits you, as much as whether it suits them. * Ensure you ask relevant questions, there's nothing worse than irrelevance. Don't ask them about the weather, or their niece's wedding. As questions about the future plans for the company, staff training and development. This would demonstrate an interest in the company that will look favourably upon you and a willingness to get involved. Additionally, if you have researched the company in advance, you can prove your knowledge of the company - which could make you a better candidate than others - and mean your questions are more interesting to the interviewers - leaving them with a better impression of you. * Inquire as to who you would be working with when you first start, and how your development will be managed in the early stages of your career. This will show a willingness to learn as well as showing that you're taking an interest in their methods of training. * Don't spurt out questions about your potential salary, especially if this is a first round interview: if there will be another round or more, save this question for later. If it is a last round interview, then save this question for the end, and phrase it appropriately - i.e. "What would the salary be like for this position?" not "So, how much will I earn?" (You can just imagine the second question being followed by a "mate", just don't.) * Find out if this company is a suitable place for you. Don't settle for the first offer that comes your way. Just turning the tables in a respectful and inquisitive way will help to relax you and build up your confidence. I bombed so many interviews before I hit my stride and began to nail them. I hope this helps you with your interviews and I hope you find the job that truly fits what you want to do after college! * Once you have finished interviewing them, make sure you thank them for giving you the interview, and remember your posture, smile, handshake and manners as you leave.
Click here to see What questions you could ask?
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The Future
Remember that many people apply for the same job and some don't even get through to the interview stage, so don't be too disappointed if you're not successful. It is, after all, going to be a vital experience in helping you prepare for future interviews, and you never know, if you make a good enough impression they may keep your details on file and contact you in the future if a smiliar suitable role comes up.
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What questions might I be asked in an interview?
Obviously the questions you might be asked is going to vary massively from place to place. Here are some examples that TSR members have provided. Feel free to add more examples or the sort of answers you'd give if it is not already down (and feel free to leave your name)!
What are your strengths?
This should really be an easy question, and it's a common one. If you're particularly modest, think up some answers in advance. Think of things like: * Hard working * Good analytical ability * Excellent communication skills * Good problem solver * etc.

What are your weaknesses?
Again, this shouldn't be too hard. * I usually say I have trouble delegating, as I prefer to complete work to my own high standard. But I have learnt that trusting someone to do a good job frees up my time and allows me to concentrate on my core job role. - anonymous

Why are you leaving your current employer?
If you've been employed before, try to make this sound positive. * You're looking for more of a challenge * Your current role is too restricting or doesn't give you enough responsibility. * etc

Tell me about a time you used leadership/initiative/good judgement.
What happened? What was the outcome? Questions about leadership can be academic or otherwise. Consider any roles you might have had in clubs or societies. Maybe you organised events for your university sports team, or you were head boy/girl at school/college and made some good decisions

Tell me about a time when you made the wrong decision.
This is something that might be very difficult to answer. Whatever you choose to talk about, important to remember is to say what the outcome was and state what you learned from this experience. Don't say that you were fired!

Why do you think you'd be good at this role?
Here you could pick up on where you left off with "what are your strengths", i.e. relating all your skills and attributes to the responsibilities you would undertake in the role. If you're a clear and confident speaker, for example, and your job will involve answering lots of telephones, then this is the sort of thing you'd need to mention.

What can you bring to this organisation? * Dedication * Initiative * Innovation * Motivation * Enthusiam * etc

Do you feel you can work well unsupervised/in a team/both?
Mention some incidents where you had to work in a team, perhaps a drama performance, or a sporting event where you had to come together with your teammates. * For me, for unsupervised I would probably talk about writing my university dissertation and not really having any contact hours with my tutor for guidance; while for team work I'd mention when I was in year 11 and as part of a group we had to make a scale model of the small estate where our school was located for a local anniversary. - JR

How do you cope under pressure?
Provide some examples of occasions where you were under pressure and you succeeded.

Explain how you went about acquiring (a) new skill(s)
This could be through study, training or experience. It all depends on the type of person you are and the type of skills you have.

Give me three words to describe yourself.
This is a tough thing to be asked; try to be positive, but don't be afraid of throwing in one slightly less positive one. . Obviously if you want to through out three similar positives, then go for it. It's your prerogative.
Examples:
* Motivated, cooperative, cautious. * Enthusiastic, committed, decisive. * etc

What's your biggest weakness?
Be honest when asked a quesiton like this. * I typically state something along the lines of "overly dogmatic". - anonymous * Hehehe, for me it'd probably be that I don't like to admit when I've made a mistake :$ - JR

Do you play cards? [this might be asked in a trading interview]
Either "yes, I play cards" or "no, I do not play cards".

What do we really get if we employ you?
This is similar to "what can you bring to this organisation?"

Why haven't you had a FO internship?
Already had experience/opportunity didn't present itself. (Maybe a good idea would be to get an internship position.)

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What Questions Might You Ask?
Here are just a few examples that should get you thinking:

What are you looking for in the ideal candidate for this position?
Translates to: Do I fit the bill for the kind of person they are looking for? Maybe you'd know whether you are up to the job better than they.

How many people at my level (college graduate/university graduate etc) are you looking to hire this round?
Translates to: What sort of chance do I have of getting this job? At least knowing it is a highly competitive position will make it less disappointing if you hear nothing back.

Describe the culture of your company in and around the office.
Translates to: Is this the sort of company I want to work for, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week? If you're a very laid back person, a very strict work place might not be for you (and vice versa).

What kind of work would I be doing?
Translates to: Is this what I want to be doing? You don't want to accept a job where you don't really know the sort of things you'll be doing, especially if you find that your daily tasks are too easy.

What do you offer to your clients and employees that other companies do not?
Translates to: Why should I work here? It would be nice to know the little perks and bonuses you might be entitled to, to help you make up your mind about whether you'd want to work there.

What does your company value?
Translates to: Do your values align with mine? If you are working for a company that values the same things as you (for example, greener technology, pro bono work) then you may enjoy working for a place like that better.

What training and development will I be exposed to?
Translates to: How will I be trained and assessed? If you're starting at a low level, you'd much rather know that you're going to be mentored and assisted until you are qualified than simply being thrown in at the deep end.
General questions about you * How much do you know about the job? * What interests you about the job? * What skills or experience do you have that make you right for this job? * Why did you leave your last company? * What interests you about this company? * When have you had an opportunity to show initiative? * Who and what were you responsible for in your last job? * Can you give an example of when you coped well under pressure? * Do you prefer to work as an individual or as part of a team? * What are your three biggest achievements so far in your career? * What do you see as your good and bad characteristics? * What are your long term goals? How are you going to succeed in achieving them? * Tell me more about your hobbies and interests? * Are you considering any other jobs?
Your questions * Asking relevant questions shows you are interested, organised and able to plan ahead * Salary and benefits are important, but an employer will be more impressed if you ask questions about the company, the department and the job first * Good questions to ask are about training opportunities, who you will report to, who you will be working with, promotion prospects, what the working hours are and if there are peak periods when you will be expected to work longer hours * If your really don't have anything to ask, don't ask something stupid just for the sake of it.