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Section 10

The job interview

During the interview

• Be polite and friendly, and remember to smile.
• Display confidence through your body language – don’t slouch in your chair or
look down when you are speaking.
• Speak loudly and clearly.
• Prepare for the question ‘Tell me about yourself’ by planning out your focus
and emphasising your skills.
• Portray yourself in a positive light and avoid negative statements.
• Try to frame your answers in a way that they relate to the job and why you
are the best candidate for it.
• Be honest – it is better to turn down a job that you are not a good match for
than to fake it.
• Prepare yourself for curveball questions – and take your time answering them.
• Ask for time to think if you need a moment to formulate your thoughts.
• If you are unsure of what an interviewer is asking you, politely ask for a more
detailed explanation.

Interviews can be done in person, by telephone or by video.
Telephone interviews

When employers ask for telephone interviews they are often still in the screening
and selection phase to find out if you meet the role requirements. This is a more
efficient way of interviewing multiple candidates and telephonic interviews are
often used when a potential candidate is from a different location.
What can you expect from a telephone interview?

1 It will usually be just one person on the call and not a panel interview.
2 The purpose of the call is for the hiring manager to get more information
from you to determine if you fit the role requirements. Simultaneously, the
purpose could also be to find characteristics that could potentially eliminate
you for the role – for example, if you are not punctual for the call and do not
pick up on time.
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