What to take to a face to face interview

Treat every interview like a business meeting

As a recent graduate, it is likely that your interview experience will be limited and therefore it is hard to know what the general expectation is when you’re visiting a company for an interview.  Always treat an interview as though it were a business meeting. 

Put yourself in the shoes of a professional business person.  It is unlikley that you would turn up to a business meeting without preparation, or without literature to discuss.  It is highly likely that you would arrive on time, well presented, with preparation and an idea of what you wanted to achieve in that meeting.  The same rules apply for an interview.

Think about how you arrive to the interview.  Naturally, you will arrive on time and you will arrive in a professional business suit.  When you arrive, you will be calm, cool and collected.

You will arrive with your own literature, which in this case will be a printed copy of your resume (which is probably immaculately presented).

You will also have with you, a written overview that you have prepared about the company you’re interviewing with.  You would have a clear and thorough understanding about the company, the role and be able to clearly articulate why you are the right person for the job.

You are also likely to be inquisitive and curious about the organisation and are likely to ask a series of questions to better understand the facets of the role and the responsibilities required.  In this case, I would recommend that you prepare a list of 15-20 questions prior to an interview that you need to ask.  You are also likely to write the information down that you find out.  And therefore you will require a notebook and a pen.  Writing information down, demonstrates that you have an interest in what is being discussed.  It also demonstrates an attention to detail and a desire to re-read the information gathered.  This is ideal for a prospective employer to see.

A job interview is a great opportunity to speak about yourself and to do so at length.  It is also, an opportunity to ask questions about an employer to assess whether it is the right role for you.  There is no excuse for candidates that accept jobs only to state “it wasn’t what I thought it was going to be” after 3 months.  This says to me, that no questions were asked in the interview itself.  Any concerns about the role should have been established in the interview process.

Finding a job is not a difficult task if it is approached in a sensible manner.  Companies like ProGrad can offer a helping hand but can’t be relied upon whole-heartedly.  We ask that our candidates ensure they take a proactive approach to all interviews.  We can facilitate an introduction, the rest is up to the graduate! 

Take it seriously, and prepare.  Treat every interview like a formal business meeting and you’re likely to see the rewards more quickly.

For more information about ProGrad, our interviews or getting more information about graduate interviews, call us on 02 8235 8300.  Alternatively, email us info@prograd.com.au

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