Employment consultation and advice specialist A4e reveals some top tips for success in job interviews (From Ealing Times)

Employment consultation and advice specialist A4e reveals some top tips for success in job interviews

12:03pm Friday 22nd January 2010

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In today's competitive job market, it can be difficult for interviewees to get the edge they need to impress potential employers, especially if they have been out of work for a long time. With UK unemployment at a fourteen year high, interview skills are now more important than ever. A4e have been supporting and advising the long term unemployed for over 20 years and helps one of Britain's 2.44 million unemployed find a job every twelve minutes.

With this in mind employment expert A4e has put together its top ten tips for interview success.

1. Be prepared. Find out as much as possible about the company, its past and future plans, as well as the position you want. Company websites are invaluable for this kind of research.

2. Practise answering likely interview questions. Prepare examples of your skills based on past achievements, and try to use your answers to prove that you can benefit the company. For example, by improving customer service, you could help them make more money by improving efficiency and increasing sales. Other key company objectives include reducing costs and solving problems.

3. Whenever possible, use numbers to back up your answers, such as the record number of customers you served in a day, the per cent you exceeded your quota, or the number of new accounts you generated.

4. It is very important to be on time for the interview. On time means ten to fifteen minutes early!

5. Dress appropriately, in business attire. It is better to be overdressed than underdressed.

6. Find out the interviewer's name before the interview (call ahead to find out if necessary), use it during the interview, and maintain eye contact with your interviewer to establish a personal connection.

7. Remember to bring an extra copy of your CV and a list of references.

8. Try to stay calm during the interview, and don't be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat a question if you're not sure what's been asked, or to take a little time to think through your response before answering so that you can answer the question fully. Make positive, upbeat statements and especially avoid negative comments about past employers.

9. Ask questions about the position and the organisation, but avoid asking any questions that can be easily answered by looking at the company website, also avoid questions about salary and benefits before a job offer has been made.

10. At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer and repeat your interest in the position. This leaves the interviewer with a positive image of you and keeping you front of mind.

Regional sales director of the South East, Matt Wells comments: "Getting the right advice and support can make all the difference. It is very easy for excellent candidates to lose out in a job interview situation through nerves or inexperience. Vice versa, a good interview which allows the candidate to demonstrate their enthusiasm can help employers see the potential in a person.

"The importance of personal advice like this should not be underestimated, and should be a key part of any initiative to get more people into the workplace."

A4e has been working in the region for 15 yrs and offers personally tailored advice on interviews and CVs with practical support. A4e centres also offer skills training programmes which allow clients to build on existing experience or take their lives in a completely new direction. While learning, they can gain accredited qualifications in areas ranging from NVQs in retail to qualifications for nursing, and increase their employability.

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