5 tips for your first job interview

Have you been invited to a job interview? Congratulations – your CV and cover letter have paid off (perhaps you’ve read our article 6 useful tips for your application letter (Have you read it and did it help you?). You’re now among the select few. Are you the ‘real-life performer’, glad that you no longer have to write any more applications and can finally introduce yourself in person? Or are you rather a bit nervous about that first face-to-face meeting? Either way, there are rules for both scenarios that will help you make the right decisions. Both before, during and after the interview. It’s a bit like a first date – there are certain tips you should take on board, but ultimately it all comes down to whether you’re a good fit and whether there’s simply a ‘spark’.

Preparation

There are some questions, situations and moments you simply cannot prepare for. They just happen, and you have to react, be yourself – in other words, be authentic. What you can, however, prepare for well is gathering the necessary information about the business or company where you want to start your apprenticeship. “What was your name again?” is not an appropriate question, either on a first date or at a job interview …

First impressions

You’re no doubt familiar with the 3-second rule. In 3 seconds, you form an impression of a person and make up your mind. It doesn’t mean that this impression is set in stone and can’t be changed, but it’s a crucial advantage to get off to a good start. Your first glance inevitably falls on someone’s clothes – so choose wisely. It doesn’t always have to be a suit, but your outfit should show a certain level of respect, because after all, the conversation is important. You can polish your shoes, iron your shirts or blouses, and yes, everything can go together nicely too. If you’re not sure, it’s best to ask for advice; a critical outside perspective usually helps, even if you simply feel most comfortable in your favourite T-shirt.

But it’s not just your clothes that can help you make an impression:

• Be on time (preferably a little early – it’s better to wait than to arrive too late). You often can’t find the right person, the reception desk or even the entrance straight away.
• Take notes. Even if you have a photographic memory and can remember virtually everything, at least take a notepad with you – it shows that ‘you’re serious about it’.
• Nowadays, people usually have their smartphones set to silent or vibrate, but it’s still best to double-check. A ringtone or any other sound in the middle of a job interview is more than just embarrassing.
• Body language – arguably one of the trickiest aspects, as everyone is different. You should feel at ease, yet still come across as professional. It’s fine to be a bit nervous, but constantly wiggling your knees or fiddling with your hair or a pen is distracting. You don’t need to overdo it, though – just ‘check’ every now and then during the conversation to see how you’re sitting, whether you’re making the movements we’ve just discussed, and ‘fine-tune’ your posture from time to time. Apparently, there are also managers who see nervousness as a positive sign that you’re taking this interview seriously. So, don’t be afraid of feeling nervous. 
• The job interview can take longer than the interview itself. It sounds a bit cryptic, but the situation isn’t over until you’ve left the building. In other words, even a casual ‘Bye for now’ right at the end can do a lot of damage. And a ‘See you’ at the start, of course…

All in all, stay positive, look forward to meeting nice people, and remember: even if it doesn’t work out, you’re sure to have learnt something from it!

The real reason

People are usually a bit nervous, whether it’s a date or a job interview. Some more so than others. And that’s a good thing, because it’s a special moment. Nevertheless, there are a few questions you can ask yourself in advance (and it’s even easier to do so during the interview itself):

• Why am I here?
• Why do I want this job?

You are also very likely to be asked the following questions (perhaps not word for word):

• Why are you the right person for the apprenticeship?
• Tell us a bit about yourself.
• What do you know about our business?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses (a question particularly popular with many HR staff members)?

Of course, you can leave yourself some leeway when answering – after all, you don’t want it to sound as though you’ve learnt it by heart. But at the very least, don’t be taken by surprise if you’re asked these questions. The more you’ve found out about your apprenticeship, the easier it will be to come up with certain answers and, above all, the more confidently you’ll start the conversation.

Your interest

There’s almost always time for your questions at the end of the interview. If you’re asked to ask any, it’s always a good idea to ask a few. It shows that you’re interested. However, your questions should focus more on the apprenticeship or the company itself; questions such as ‘I’d need some time off right in the first week’ are usually out of place. You can certainly ask them, but perhaps save them for a later date.

We hope these tips will help you, and we wish you every success with your job interview! :-)