Menu
You can never prepare well enough for your first interview. You’ve scoured the internet, spoken to more experienced friends, and all that. Yet, there’s this part of you that keeps telling you that you’ve skipped an important aspect of the interview. Then you begin to overthink—the “what ifs” become endless.
You need to calm down. It’s your anxiety getting the better of you. After all, you’ll only be speaking with another human. Anxiety impedes your confidence. And you need every bit of your confidence to do well in the interview. Therefore, banishing your anxiety is the first step to passing your first interview in the UK.
This, however, is only just the beginning and won’t take you the whole way. To ensure a successful interview, here are other things you should do;
1. Do Your Research and Prepare Your Answers
A good interview begins with research. To ace your interview, you should know what the company does and how it operates, who the competitors are, and what they offer to consumers. This way, you’ll be able to answer questions in a more informed manner.
Interviewers want to see that you have done your research on the company before the interview. The more you know about their business, the easier it will be for you to answer any questions they might ask.
2. Dress to Impress
While you don’t need to break out the designer duds, it’s important to dress in a way that shows you’re serious about the interview. First impressions matter, so you shouldn’t dress like someone going to a party.
Whether the interview is online or physical, ensure you dress fit and professionally. This of course will give you an edge over others. If you’re not sure of where to start, you can easily check the company’s LinkedIn profile to get an idea of how the employees dress.
3. Practice your Interview Skills
Before the interview, it’s important to practice your interview skills. This will help to boost your confidence. One way to practice is to research common interview questions and then answer them out loud. Alternatively, you could ask a friend or family member to help you role-play an interview.
4. Stay Relaxed and Confident
The best way to stay relaxed and confident for your upcoming interview is to prepare in advance. Make sure you know your resume inside and out and take some time to research the company and the position you’re applying for. The more prepared you are, the more relaxed and confident you’ll feel during the interview.
It’s also important to remember that everyone gets nervous before an interview. It’s normal to feel a little anxious, and it doesn’t mean you’re not qualified for the job. Just take a few deep breaths and remember that you’re going to do great.
5. Consult Others
There are several benefits you’ll get when you meet with people who have passed through this process. First, you’ll get first-hand knowledge of how to answer some logical questions asked during the interview. Another thing is, you’ll get exposed to what and what not to do during or after the interview, and ways to avoid common pitfalls.
6. Practice Your English
Remember it’s the UK. Here, the English language is not just necessary it is highly compulsory. So, if English is not your first language, you’ll need to make sure you’re comfortable speaking it before your interview.
Before the interview, practice with a friend or family member to help build your fluency and confidence. Again, listen to native English speakers, or better still, enroll for a short English tutorial.
Becoming fluent in English would take some time and it’s better to be consistent with it. Who knows? Your interviewer could ask for a short presentation.
7. Don’t Forget Your Documents
Having the right documents ready before the interview will give you an edge. Make sure you have copies of your CV, references, and any other supporting documents. If you’re an expat, you can take along copies of your skilled worker visa or any other documents regarding your UK immigration.
In all, have your writing materials handy. Who knows, you can be asked to write anything down.
8. Plan Your Time
It’s important to be punctual when you have a job interview in the UK. This means arriving on time – or even better, a few minutes early. Hit the road as soon as you can to avoid some circumstances that may be beyond your control.
If you’re not sure what time your interview is, ask the person who arranged it with you. They will be able to tell you the time, as well as the address and directions to the interview location.
